Chapter 3
Farewell
Hinata slipped her hand from Ben's grip as he led her onto the ship. She glanced back at Sam who was speaking with Jim and Riku, and felt her heart sink. Sam's words echoed in her mind as she turned back around to see Ben at the Navigation with Jack floating beside him. Entire chunks of the deck were shot away, leaving gaping holes with blackened edges from the heat of the laser blasts. Hinata carefully walked around them, making her way to the controls.
"Ben…" she said, her voice soft and weak. Her hands fidgeted in front of her as she waited for Ben to look towards her.
"Why won't you stand up for yourself?" he asked with a slight snip in his tone. Turning around to face her, his eyes were a light orange, the anger inside of him still simmering. "Everything Sam said was completely wrong, but you just stood there and even agreed with her!"
Hinata shook her head, her gaze downcast. "I-I don't know…"
"I know you don't like me calling you it, but you're my captain," Ben continued, the orange tint in his eyes dimming. "The Highwind's yours and without you… none of us would be here." Hinata rose her gaze to his as he added, "You're the one that brought this crew together and seeing one of your crewmates talk like that to you…" He looked away, crossing his arms. "Well, it's not something Captain Flint would have stood for, I'll tell you that much."
A breathy laugh escaped Hinata as she looked towards Sam outside the ship. "Ben… I'm not a captain… At least not one that you're used to."
"Yeah, I know," Ben sighed, "but you're the best captain I've ever had. Without you, I'd probably still be stuck on Bentopia or still back on Montressor working at the Benbo!"
Hinata looked towards him, the slightest hint of a smile on her lips.
"It takes a lot for my old joints to get angry," Ben continued, shaking his head, "but seeing Sam talk to my captain like that, I just couldn't take it. If you weren't going to stand up for yourself, someone had to."
Her smile grew a bit more as emotion constricted her throat. Taking a step forward, she wrapped her weak arms around Ben, pulling him into a hug. Ben gasped before putting his metal arms around her. They stood there for a moment before Hinata whispered, "Thank you…"
Ben's arms tightened just a bit before he pulled back and rubbed his eyes. "Oh! You're gonna make this old robot cry again!" He turned around with a sniffle. "Does anyone have a tissue?"
Hinata chuckled lightly, patting Ben's shoulder before walking towards the railing of the ship. She gazed at the facility, feeling the cool rain falling against her skin. A pair of footsteps caught her attention, and glancing over she saw Riku coming onto the ship, his hood concealing his face. He caught her stare despite Hinata averting her gaze and walked over to her. Hinata closed her eyes as she felt him lean against the railing beside her, just far enough apart so they wouldn't be touching.
"Sam's starting up the ship," Riku broke the silence between them. "We'll be at Montressor in about six hours."
Hinata wordlessly nodded, opening her eyes once again as she heard the rumbling engines from the ship beside them come to life. She looked over the facility one last time, taking in a deep breath as they began to lift up from the platform.
"I hope I never have to see this place again…" Hinata whispered, barely loud enough for Riku to hear her.
"Yeah," he agreed simply, glancing over at her for a moment before looking back to the shrinking facility. "I'm, uh, sorry—for what Sam said."
Hinata shook her head. "It's fine… I can't blame her for feeling the way she does." She lowered her gaze to the railing, digging her nails against the wood grain as she added with a softer voice, "I sort of feel the same way…"
"Well, you shouldn't," Riku contested, a firm tone in his voice. "I saw what happened; that wasn't your fault." He looked out at the blanket of stars around them as they reached space, a sense of familiarity settling in his heart as he glanced over at Hinata, somehow knowing he had seen this sight with her before. Without thinking, he placed his hand along her shoulder, feeling a slight spark stirring inside him. "None of this was."
He swallowed hard as Hinata reached her hand up to his. Her thumb ran across his wrist making his heart jump, and with a fit of embarrassment, he pulled back his hand. Clearing his throat, he stepped back, trying his best to ignore the slight look of disappointment in Hinata's eyes.
"You, uh," he stammered, crossing his arms and looking away, "you should probably get some sleep."
Hinata scoffed, catching his attention. She shook her head. "I don't think I'm going to be able to sleep for a long time…"
Riku frowned, but didn't say anything in response. Instead, he turned around and headed below deck to get some rest of his own and make sense of the stirrings in his heart. The six hours of the trip passed with little to no excitement. Hinata stayed up on the deck the entire trip, replaying in her mind everything that had happened as she desperately tried to come up with what should have happened— or what she could have done differently.
Ben and Jack kept her company, helping distract her thoughts a bit. They talked amongst themselves and Ben recalled lighthearted stories from his time with Captain Flint, the few there were, and from the hundred years he was trapped on Treasure Planet. Hinata found herself calming from his stories, even chuckling a few times from Ben's theatrics.
But that changed once they entered the atmosphere of Montressor. The familiar haze of the planet made Hinata sick to her stomach. She watched as they approached Sam's shop, and even with the ships barely fitting inside the deep trench in the center of the factory, Sam managed to park without making a scratch. Everything was exactly the way Hinata remembered it. The engine's roar echoed through the vast room, workers standing back to allow room for the ships. Hinata's hands tightened around the railing, her stomach flipping as she spotted Clarisse running towards them, her golden eyes wide with hope and worry. Hinata looked away, unable to face her and tell her the truth. Taking in a deep breath, she turned and headed below deck to awaken Riku.
Sam leaned back in her seat as the engines to her ship powered down. She could see Clarisse standing near the edge of the trench through the windshield, her hands fidgeting helplessly in front of her. Shaking her head, Sam ran her hands over her face, feeling a knot forming in her stomach.
"I can't tell her," she whispered, feeling Jim's warm hands running along her arms as he stood behind her seat.
"I'll handle the unpleasantries," Amelia assured her, a grim tone in her quiet voice. "As well as the funeral preparations."
Sam looked up from her hands, seeing Amelia standing tall to the right of her. She met her eyes with the seasoned feline. "A-are you sure? I can—"
"You've been through enough," Amelia interjected. "I unfortunately have quite a lot of experience organizing these sort of events, and I would be honored to do so for James."
Sam's bottom lip began to quiver slightly as emotion welled up in her eyes. Unable to speak, she simply nodded, straining the largest smile she could. Amelia returned a smile as she placed her hand along Sam's shoulder and left the ship to deliver the unfortunate news to Clarisse.
"Everything's going to be alright," Jim spoke gently, continuing to run his hands along Sam's arms. "We'll take care of everything."
Sam nodded wordlessly once again, moving one of her hands over Jim's as she began to break down.
Hinata sat on the edge of the bed in her room on the ship, looking over Riku as he slept peacefully under the covers.
There was the familiar urge to climb under the covers with him. Just a few days prior, that's exactly what she would have done. Woken him up with a soft kiss and admitted she had things on her heart and that she was struggling. Now though, she didn't know how he'd take that.
Given how he'd panicked just from placing his hand over her shoulder, she wasn't sure he'd react well to her trying anything from how they used to be. It was strange to sit there beside him. Something that should have been comforting, but instead she could feel the invisible barrier he had up. A barrier he had up for everyone else except her… but now it was up for her too.
She looked to her hands in her lap and admitted with a whisper, "I wish I could go back in time… do things differently. I never would have left the mansion, never would have insisted you let me leave… None of this would have happened. I would settle for you just remembering who I am… even for a moment. There's so much I want to say to you…"
"You could start by waiting to talk to me until after I'm awake," Riku grumbled, stirring as he turned towards her. His hair was jostled and unstyled against the pillow as he stared back at Hinata's surprised eyes.
A light laugh suddenly escaped Hinata as she looked away, her face warming as her tattoo dimly glowed. "Of course you'd hear me." She stood up in a rush and straightened out her clothes. "And you woke up to me sitting on the bed, talking to myself. That's great. I promise I'm not usually a total creep." Riku watched her with mild amusement as she cleared her throat and averted her gaze. "I, uh, just wanted to let you know we're back on Montressor."
"It's fine," Riku sighed, running his hand over his face with a yawn, "you can talk to me whenever you need to." Propping himself up on his elbows, he asked, "What did you want to say to me?"
"Oh, it's…" She pushed back her hair, before her hand clasped around her locket, drawing Riku's gaze to it. "I… don't even know where to start. And it's probably best that I don't right now." She let out a breath and wrapped her arms around herself. "Sorry, this new dynamic is going to take some getting used to."
"Yeah," he agreed with a dry laugh as he sat up completely. "I know what you mean."
Hinata let out a breath. "I'll give you some time to get up. I'll just… be up on deck."
Before Riku could reply, she escaped the room and quickly shut the door behind her. She took in a deep breath as she came up on deck, her embarrassed nerves flitting away as she heard Clarisse's cries echoing through the factory. Her heart dropped as she looked over the railing, seeing Clarisse in the waiting room on a couch, with Amelia sitting beside her. Clarisse's face was buried away in her hands, her shoulders trembling as Amelia had her arm around her.
"She just heard about James," Ben informed her, his eyes dimmed blue as Hinata glanced back at him. Clearing his throat, he asked, "So, where are you and Riku staying tonight? Jack'a'boy and I are thinking of staying here to see if we can fix anything on the ship—you know, to get a head start."
"That's not a bad idea," Hinata nodded, her voice soft as she continued to hear Clarisse's sobs. "But I'm not sure where Riku and I will stay."
"We'll stay at the Benbo Inn," Riku answered, coming onto the deck, his hood concealing his face. "Do you need to pack anything?"
"Oh, yes I should." Hinata nodded, moving past him to gather her clothes.
Riku watched her leave before looking to Ben. "We'll be at the Inn if you need anything. Try not to get into any trouble, alright?"
"Yes'sir," Ben nodded respectfully, his voice still calm and solemn. "Try to cheer Hinata up a bit."
"Not sure how much good I could do." Riku sighed, looking towards Sam as she got off her ship with Jim in tow.
Sam caught his gaze and sent him a nod. She came to a stop as she asked, "Where will you be staying?"
"The Benbo," Riku answered. "Call if you need anything."
Sam nodded. "I will… I'm going to start on the repairs; should be done in the next few days."
"Are you sure that's the best idea?" Riku asked. "Working right now?"
Sam looked away as Jim answered for her, "She just needs something to keep busy. It will be fine."
Riku nodded, turning away to head below deck and pack his things. As he left, Sam let out a long breath. "Let's get started then… I guess…"
Jim stayed with Sam, retrieving her tools and helping her remake the metal for the deck of the ship. Riku and Hinata left to the Benbo Inn along with everyone else in the shop. Clarisse eventually drifted home after convincing Amelia that she would be fine on her own. Soon it was just Sam, Jim, and Ben working on the ship in the empty factory. With the sun completely set, the moonlight poured in from the open hangar doors, casting a dreary light on the workers. Sam didn't say a word, focusing solely on the task at hand as Ben struck up occasional conversations with Jim. Hours passed before Jim was finally reaching the point of exhaustion. He let out a long yawn as he handed Sam a wrench, noticing her looking him over.
"...You should head home," she muttered, her voice monotone and soft. "I'll be heading to bed soon…"
"Are you sure?" he asked, placing his hand along her shoulder. "I can stay the night if you—"
"I'll be fine," she interrupted him. "I think I need some time alone."
Jim nodded, moving his hand off of her as he let out a breath. "Alright. But let me know if you need me for anything." When Sam only nodded, he gave her a light kiss on the cheek before turning to leave. He paused before heading up the stairs towards the deck. "I love you."
Sam glanced back at him, seeing him smiling sweetly at her with a worried look in his eyes. Her features softened as she whispered back, "I love you, too."
She watched as Jim continued up the stairs until he was out of sight. Then she looked back at the work in front of her and felt a lump forming in her throat. Shaking her head, she continued her job, ignoring everything else around her. A couple more hours passed before Sam let out her own yawn. She leaned back, her eyelids heavy and her vision blurring from exhaustion.
Glancing over, she saw Ben still working a few feet from her with Jack floating beside him. Clearing her throat, she pushed herself to her feet, wobbling a bit as she struggled to keep her balance. "Hey… I think I'm gonna head to bed."
"Oh, sure," Ben acknowledged her, his voice uninterested as he focused on his work.
Sam noticed his tone, but simply rolled her eyes as she made her way to the stairs and went up to the deck. The chilling air of the shop swirled around her, making her run her hands along her arms. Everything was silent and dark around her.
She momentarily wondered why James hadn't popped in to remind her of the time and not to overwork herself. Then she stopped at the railing of the ship, looking out into the darkness. A lump constricted her throat. She could almost hear James' voice, and she listened for it, but all she heard was a faint ringing in her ears as she swayed back and forth from exhaustion.
Taking a deep breath, she jumped down from the ship and made her way to her little home connected to the shop.
She was greeted with an overwhelming scent of dust as she opened the door to the dark living room. A dim light appeared under the crack of her mother's room, the sight making Sam clench her jaw as she walked past. As she approached the hallway leading to her room, she paused feeling suddenly lightheaded. She could see the door leading to the room she and James used to share. Her heart began to pound, resonating through her entire being as she stared at the door. With a shaking step, she pushed herself forward, grabbing the doorknob and forcing the door open. Tears welled up in her eyes as she flicked the light on.
Her side of the room was neat and empty, the bed made and the posters gone. Yet, James' side was still full of life. The covers on his bed were tousled and wrinkled, clothes scattered on the floor, partially hanging out of his dresser drawers. His model ships were displayed on shelves, some even hanging from the ceiling. Her eyes went to his desk, covered with various pieces of random ships and the glue bottle still left open as if he had been in a hurry the last time he was there. Sam's throat tightened, tears pouring down her face as she stood frozen, unable to step into or away from the room. Her knees buckled, and she slunk to the floor, the reality of James being gone looming over her. Sobs escaped her, first quiet and subdued, but then loud and desperate as her heart broke. She brought her knees to her chest, burying her face between them as she shattered.
She didn't hear as a door creaked open, or the sound of soft footsteps approaching her. A frail hand landed on her shoulder, startling her as she gasped and looked up, seeing her mother kneeling beside her. Her mother's freckled skin was pale and thin, and her turquoise eyes dimmed and solemn. Her thin brown hair fell freely around her face as she looked Sam over.
"M-Mom?" Sam squeaked, trembling as her Mom wrapped her arms around her. "W-what are you doing?"
"I heard you crying," she replied weakly. Pulling away when Sam didn't hug her back. She looked Sam over, her eyes landing on her mechanical arm, the first time she had ever seen it for herself. Taking in a breath, she looked back to her daughter's tear stained face. "And… I knew you needed someone."
Sam's lip quivered as she looked away. Closing her eyes, she shook her head and bit, "I've needed you for the past two and a half years."
A pang of hurt flashed over her mother's eyes as she slowly nodded. "I-I know… I've missed so much."
"Yeah, you have," Sam agreed, tears straining her voice as anger snipped at the back of her throat. "I don't even know how to tell you what happened… But it's not like you'd care… All you ever cared about was Dad."
"I.. I know it's hard to believe," her mother began, her bony hands clasped tightly in her lap, trembling, "but, I do care. I always have."
"Sure had a funny way of showing it," Sam snipped, glaring at her mother. Letting out a rough breath, she grabbed the doorway and forced herself to her feet. "I don't know why you came out here… but I'm not interested, alright?" Sam walked past her mom, still knelt on the floor, "I've done just fine without you..."
Her mother winced as Sam slammed the door out of the house.
Hinata brought one of her legs up to her chest as she looked up at the starry sky from the roof of the Benbo Inn. She could hear the murmurs of voices from inside the Inn, all discussing everything that had happened the past few days. Taking in a long breath, she relished the cool night air around her and closed her eyes, trying to calm her racing, muddled thoughts. The sound of someone climbing up onto the roof caused her to open her eyes. Looking over, she saw Jim pushing himself up onto the roof. He paused when he noticed her.
"Oh," he realized. "I, uh, didn't realize you were up here. Sorry, I'll—"
"It's fine," Hinata assured him, scooting over. "I can leave. I know it's usually your spot."
Jim looked her over, thinking for a moment before shrugging. "Well I didn't go through the trouble of putting my name on it or anything, so I guess I can share it this once."
Hinata let out a small laugh. "I appreciate it." She watched him as he situated himself beside her. "How are you doing?"
He shrugged, leaning back on his elbows and looking up at the stars. "I don't really know. I feel like I should be the one asking you that question."
"I don't really know, either," Hinata admitted, her eyes focusing on the dirt path leading to the Inn. She brought her other leg to her chest, leaning her chin between her knees. "Probably the longest day of my life though."
Jim huffed. "Yeah, I can imagine." He glanced over at her, adding, "So… if you know of this spot, we must have been kinda close before."
Hinata met her eyes with his for a moment, before looking back to the dirt path and nodding. "Yeah, we met on Treasure Planet, I was—"
"No way!?" Jim exclaimed, startling her as he turned towards her. "You were there?"
Shaking her head from his outburst, she chuckled. "Yeah, I was there…" Her smile fell as she recalled, "I had been stranded there for about a month with Ben; then you showed up with Doc and Amelia. And after it all, I came back here with you guys and eventually worked here at the Benbo once it was rebuilt."
Jim stared at her in disbelief for a moment, before turning and looking back at the stars. He was silent for an entire minute, before muttering, "We went through all that together, and I couldn't even remember your name."
"Yeah…" Hinata whispered, the numb sensation in her gut throbbing in response. "It's not your fault though."
"I can't imagine what you must be going through," he shook his head, speaking under his breath. "Did… Did James remember you?"
Hinata shook her head no, Jim's frown deepening.
"I'm sorry…" he whispered. "I can't imagine…"
Hinata swallowed hard as she admitted, "I just wish he had made it out of there… Everyone remembers him."
Jim didn't reply right away as he thought over her words. Eventually, he asked, "You really blame yourself for what happened to him, don't you?"
"Yeah…" she nodded, lowering her face between her knees.
Letting out a sigh, and resituating himself in his seat, Jim began to explain, "I-uh, I don't know if I ever told you this story before I forgot… but, on the voyage to Treasure Planet, there was this massive supernova that turned into a black hole." He took in a breath, noticing Hinata peeking over at him as he continued, "The Legacy was rocking back and forth and everyone had these rope lifelines that attached us to the mast of the ship. Well, it was my job to secure all those lifelines, make sure they were tight and properly knotted, since Doc came up with this idea to ride the waves of the black hole to safety and it was going to be crazy, and whatever. Anyway, I checked all the lifelines, I'm sure of it, but… once we get out of there, Captain Amelia's first mate, Mr. Arrow… he, he didn't make it…"
"What happened?" Hinata asked, her attention completely on him.
Jim shook his head and sighed. "One of the crewmates came up and said that his life line wasn't secure… That it got undone and he fell into the black hole during the escape…"
Hinata gasped, watching as Jim grabbed a stray rock and threw it off the roof, his expression saddened.
"I'm sorry…" she whispered. "I had no idea."
Jim let out a bitter laugh. "I guess I didn't tell you that story." Taking in a breath, he continued to explain, "I was a wreck for a while after that. I couldn't believe I'd let that happen, especially to someone so close to the Captain. It was all my fault, I screwed up…" He looked up towards the sky, before explaining, "But you know what the real kicker was?"
"What?" she asked.
"I found out later that the same crewmate that told us what had happened, some spider psycho, it was actually their fault that Arrow's line had even been cut in the first place." Jim sighed. "So, it wasn't even my fault in the end, but that didn't make up for all the nights I spent hating myself for it."
"I had no idea that happened," she told him.
"You don't know the full story about James, either," Jim turned to face her, getting to his point. "Yeah, you were there when it happened, but you did everything right. It wasn't your fault, even if it might seem like it was, to you. But you don't know what those Organization guys were going to do to him later on, or what that Replica thing actually wanted. You can't control everything, just like I couldn't control who cut Arrow's lifeline."
Hinata looked back at him, seeing the hopeful, yet somewhat lost look in his eyes. A slight smile tipped the corner of her lips, before she looked away towards the stars. Taking in a breath, she told him, "Thank you…"
"Yeah," he rubbed the back of his neck. "I don't know if that helps at all, but that's my two cents."
"It does help," she assured him softly.
"Good," he let out a breath of relief as he looked forward. His smile diminished as he saw a figure approaching on the dirt path. He narrowed his eyes before gasping, "Sam…!"
Without hesitation, he slid down the roof and hopped to the ground, sprinting towards Sam before the dust from his fall could begin to settle. She was walking towards the Inn, stumbling back and forth, with her arms wrapped around herself and tears caked on her cheeks.
"Sam!" Jim called out, making her look up to see him running towards her.
She barely had a chance to outstretch her arms towards him, before he pulled her into a tight embrace. Sobs immediately erupted from her as she buried her face in the crook of his neck, her hands clutching the back of his shirt for dear life.
Jim kissed her temple, running his hands along her back as he whispered, "It's alright, I've got you. Everything's going to be alright…"
"I-I can't—" Sam's shaking voice was muffled against his neck. "I can't go back there! J-James he's… He's gone, Jim!"
"I know…" he tightened his arms around her, his heart breaking for her.
"A-and my mom… she-she—" Sam took in a few sharp breaths, as if having a hard time breathing, "she just, came out to me, pretending like— pretending like nothing was wrong! Like she- she hasn't been gone from my life… Like she didn't force James and I to—" her voice broke as broken cries escaped her. She pushed back from Jim, running her hands over her face to wipe away the tears. Shaking her head, she placed her hand on her chest, her tear stained voice rising with anger, "To give up our lives— my life to keep a damn roof over her head, while she just sat in her room, wallowing for years! I just— " she turned and ran her hands through her hair, pacing away before letting out a sudden yell. "Just who the hell does she think she is?!"
"Sam…" Jim softly said her name, reaching forward and grabbing her hand.
"I can't," Sam shook her head, tears constricting her voice, "I can't go through it with her again. Not right now… She made her choice after Dad disappeared, she never cared about us. And I'm not about to let her pretend she cared about James when I know damn well she didn't…"
Jim walked forward to be in front of Sam, grabbing her other hand. She kept her gaze down towards the ground, allowing the tears on her face to fall freely as Jim looked her over. There was so much he wanted to say to her, but he knew it wasn't the time. Taking in a deep breath, he ran his thumbs over Sam's hands.
"You don't have to deal with that." he told her, his voice calm and sweet. "We'll figure out how to tell your mom what happened, you won't have to worry about that, alright?" He waited for Sam to nod in response, before he let go of her hands and gently pulled her into his arms, running his hands along her back. "I am so sorry for everything that's happened. For everything you lost and everything you've been going through. You're the last person that deserves any of this."
Sam sniffled as she wrapped her arms around him, struggling not to break down again. Jim kissed the top of her head, making her tighten her hold on him.
"I'm going to do everything I can to help you through this," Jim assured her. "I promise. Whenever or whatever you need, I'll be right here by your side through it all, alright?"
"Mmhm," she squeaked with a nod. "I'm… I'm so sorry… for the way I've been treating you…"
Jim chuckled. "Don't even worry about it." He pulled back so he could see her face. "You should know by now that it would take a whole lot more before I'd even consider going anywhere." His smile grew as he noticed the slightest smile in response from Sam. "Let's get you inside."
Getting a nod in response, he grabbed her hand and began leading the way towards the Inn. He glanced up towards the roof, no longer seeing Hinata perched up there. Not paying it much mind, he opened the door to the Inn, hearing the cheery bell ring them welcome as the room fell silent. Sarah sat at her usual table with Doppler and Amelia across from her. They greeted the couple with saddened smiles as Sarah got out of her seat.
"Would it be alright if Sam stayed here for a while, Mom?" Jim asked, smiling as he felt Sam squeeze his hand.
"Of course," Sarah assured him. "Hinata already told us she would be."
"She did?" Sam spoke up, glancing towards the stairwell that led up to the rooms.
"Indeed she did," Amelia confirmed, a wistful tone in her voice. "She came in just a few minutes or so before you and Jim, requesting that Sam be given the master suite and that she would pay for everything."
"And asked if I would put together a bowl of blueberry sorbet for you," Sarah added, motioning towards an overfilled glass bowl on top of a nearby booth.
"She… she really did all that?" Sam asked in near disbelief, looking towards her favorite dessert on the table top as her heart sank and swelled in unison. "But why…?"
"She didn't say," Doppler spoke up, clearing her throat. "I must say though, I don't remember ever seeing her before, yet I feel as if I know her somehow."
"As do I," Amelia sighed. "She is truly a mystery."
"Yeah…" Sam agreed, her eyes absently staring at the dessert as Jim led her to the table.
She sat in the seat, leaning against Jim as she slowly ate the tart sorbet. Everyone went back to conversing with each other, but she remained silent, lost in thought as a stray tear occasionally slipped down her cheek. Soon Amelia and Doppler headed back to their home, and Sarah took Sam's empty bowl to the kitchen before retreating to her room as well. Jim sat beside Sam, leaning his back against the wall as she leaned her head against his chest. He told her stories of his life back on the Academy, simply trying to make conversation and keep the tension from becoming unbearable. He only stopped when he felt Sam's breaths evening out, and heard a soft snore that assured him that she was asleep.
Ever so carefully, he moved his hands under her and slipped out of the booth with her in his arms. He carried her up the stairs and into the master suite Hinata had rented for her. The room was vast and fancier than anything that had been in the previous Benbo. A plush, gold patterned comforter covered a King-sized bed that Jim used his foot to push back, before gently lowering Sam onto the mattress. He took off her shoes and glove, before pulling the comforter back over her. He looked at the other side of the bed, tempted to get in with her, but decided against it as he kissed her cheek and left the room.
He was about to head to his own room, before glancing back at the room he knew his mom had boarded Hinata in. Running his hand through his hair, he turned and went towards the door, clearing his throat before he knocked. He could hear a faint rustling on the other side of the room, before Hinata opened the door.
"Oh, Jim," she slightly smiled, looking him over. "Is everything alright?"
"Yeah, don't worry," he waved her off with a smile and a light chuckle. "Sam's asleep and Doc and Amelia headed home. I just… wanted to thank you, I guess."
"You don't have to," Hinata assured him, her smile growing a bit, "I just hope it helps. As much as it can, anyway."
"Helped a lot more than you might think," Jim assured her. "Sam was really surprised. I mean, we all were. How'd you know her favorite dessert?"
Hinata chuckled. "I can't tell you how many nights Sam would drag me here for late ice cream dates, right before the Benbo would close." She looked towards the stairwell leading into the dining room, a wistful look in her eyes. "It would drive Sarah crazy. She'd finally get all the dishes done and put away, but then in would come me, Sam, and James—" her voice faded, as her smile diminished and eyes dimmed. She patted her hand on the doorway as she cleared her throat, "Um-anyways, we just hung out a lot. That's all…"
"She'll come around." Jim placed his hand on her shoulder. "Just give her some time."
"Yeah… maybe," Hinata took in a breath as she forced her eyes up to Jim's. "Was there-uh, anything else you needed?"
"Oh, no, not really," Jim moved his hand from her shoulder. "Just wanted to say thanks. I hope you get some sleep."
"Not likely." She laughed bitterly. "But thanks. Goodnight, Jim." She strained a smile as she closed the door.
"You really should try to get some sleep," Riku spoke up from his spot on the couch as he sat up. "You can't stay awake forever."
"I know," Hinata admitted, leaning against the door. "I just don't know if I can…" Taking in a deep breath, she told him, "You know… I think I might go back to the roof. Watch the sun rise."
As she turned to leave the room, Riku stopped her, "But that's not for at least another three hours."
"I know…" she whispered, opening the door and leaving the room.
The following three days went by without much event. Jim accompanied Sam back to the shop every day to work on repairing the Highwind, bringing her back to the Benbo every night to sleep in her suite. Hinata took to helping Amelia prepare for James' funeral taking place the next day. Everything was set and the Highwind was finally nearing full repair, even with a few upgrades DiZ had transmitted to Ben's mind to be added to the ship. As the final night was approaching, Riku packed all of their things, prepared to leave for Twilight Town shortly after the funeral ended. The entire trip, he had been wandering, wondering why he was there, when he really had little to no attachment to anyone there. Sam rarely said a word to him and Hinata avoided him as she buried herself in the preparations for the funeral.
He paused his packing as someone knocked on the door to his room. He opened it and found Hinata standing there, noticing her slight wobble as she struggled to remain balanced. He allowed her in and she leaned back against the door as she closed it behind her, dark circles forming under her eyes and her skin pale from lack of nutrition.
"Everything should be ready for tomorrow," she informed him, her eyes focused on the floor and voice quiet. "Then we can head back to Twilight Town."
Riku nodded, looking her over. "Have you eaten anything since we've been here?"
Hinata thought about it for a moment, before shaking her head. "I don't think so… haven't been hungry."
"And you haven't slept, at least, not that I've seen," he added, walking towards her, crossing his arms.
"Are you my doctor now?" she asked, looking up at him with exhausted eyes.
"I'm concerned," he corrected her, "and coming from me, that means something."
She looked away, a frown deepening on her face. "I don't know what you want me to say, Riku. I can't sleep. And I can't force myself to eat. I just… need to work through this."
"You'll work yourself to death before anything else," he pointed out, returning the glare she sent him. "Why can't you sleep?"
"I-I don't know." she averted her gaze from his.
"You're about the worst liar I've ever seen, you know that?" He sighed.
She chewed the inside of her cheek, before taking in a breath and blurting, "Alright, fine, I have really bad problems with nightmares, alright? Like wake up screaming and freaking out, nightmares." Tears strained her voice as she added, "And with everything I've just been through… I'm terrified about what I'm going to dream about. I just can't, alright?"
Riku felt an immediate urge to pull her into his arms and followed through with it without thinking. Grabbing her shoulders, he roughly pulled her forward, hearing her gasp as he wrapped his arms around her. She reluctantly returned the gesture, tightening her arms along his back and burying her face in his chest.
"You probably have no idea why you just did that…" she surmised as her tattoo glowed dimly.
He nodded, unsure what to say as he struggled not to pull away. His heart was pounding in his chest, his nerves fluttering as he realized just how familiar she felt in his arms. "I've done this before, haven't I?"
Hinata nodded, somehow tightening her arms around him even more as she tried to soak in every detail. "...Your heart must remember something about me."
"Y-yeah," he stammered, lifting his hands to her shoulders and pushing her back as the tips of his ears burned red. Without making eye contact with her, he kept his gaze averted and ran his hand through his hair.
Hinata stepped back from him and ran her hands along her arms. "Anyway, I'll leave you be. I just wanted to let you know." Riku watched her a bit dumbfounded as she opened the door. "I think… I'll head up to the roof now. So I'll see you tomorrow."
"Wait," Riku told her, abruptly grabbing the door to keep her from closing it. "You're not going to the roof. You're getting some sleep."
"But, I told you— " she began to remind him, before he grabbed her wrist and pulled her further into the room. "W-what are you doing?"
"Stay here," he ordered her, leaving the room and closing the door behind him.
Hinata was too tired to object. She leaned back on the couch's arm behind her and crossed her arms. Riku came back just a minute later, holding Hinata's bags under his arms. He moved passed Hinata and dropped the luggage on the couch, before reaching into a pocket and pulling out the sleeping pill bottle he noticed she packed.
He tossed her the bottle and crossed his arms. "Take those pills. I'll stay here if you have any nightmares."
Hinata looked between him and the pill bottle, her face warming. "All night?"
"All night," he repeated. "It's the best offer I've got."
"You don't… have to go through so much trouble for me," she told him, opening the bottle and looking at the thin blue pills inside.
"I wouldn't have to if you'd take care of yourself," he pointed out, turning and heading towards the bedroom. Peeking over his shoulder with a smirk, he noticed her tattoo beginning to glow. His brow lifted in curiosity, but he left it be. "Come on."
Hinata reluctantly followed, doing as she was told. She swallowed a couple of the pills, before coming to the left side of the bed. She pulled back the covers and sat on the edge, taking off her shoes and undoing the braid in her hair. While she did, Riku settled in on the other side, sitting up and resting his back against the headboard as he closed his eyes.
As Hinata got under the blanket, she reached her hand forward, grasping Riku's free hand on the bed beside him. He opened his eyes, to look down at her, the nerves in his hand fluttering as she kept her gaze on his hand in hers.
"Thank you…" she simply told him, with a whisper. She closed her eyes, with his hand still clasped in hers.
He waited until she was fully asleep, before pulling back his hand and staring at his empty palm for a while. He could still feel the warmth of her hand in his skin, the sensation confusing and comforting him all at once. Sighing, he leaned his head back and stared up at the ceiling, as he reached beside him and switched off the lamp. He waited for a while before allowing himself to fall asleep, only to be awoken merely an hour later when Hinata began to stir with a nightmare.
With a startle, he awoke, feeling her writhing beside him as she muttered and cried, muffled by the pillows. He reached over and grabbed her sweat slicked hand, squeezing it in his. He opened his mouth to tell her everything was alright, but paused as he realized she was already calming down. She brought his hand to her lips, kissing his knuckles as she fell back to peaceful slumber. Riku's face burned as sparks buzzed through him. He wanted to rip his hand away from her, while also secretly wishing she would kiss him again. Swallowing hard, he resigned to shutting his eyes, trying to calm his pounding heart. The sense of familiarity with her gradually grew the longer his hand was in her grasp, causing his nerves to settle as his mind finally drifted into pleasant dreams for the first time in a long while.
Hinata awoke first the following morning. Her eyes slowly opened as she felt the warmth of the sun shining through the window. She smiled, nuzzling further into her pillow as her tired mind pieced its recent memories back together. A warm hand was in her grasp, their fingers intertwined. Hinata stared at the hand, trying to decipher who it could be, before she heard a faint, familiar snore that caused her to look up. She gasped when she saw Riku, realizing that his hand was in hers, and the events of the night before flooded into her mind. He was no longer simply leaned back against the headboard, but lying on the bed on his back, his hand between him and Hinata.
A slight smile appeared on her lips, as she pulled back her hand from his and sat up. She looked him over, loving how disheveled his hair looked and the peaceful smile on his face as he slept. His new appearance was still off putting to Hinata, but she couldn't help but find new features that she adored. Shaking her head, she flitted away the thoughts and got out of the bed. Her weak, tired legs wobbled, still not fully recovered from only one night's rest. She steadied herself against the wall, making her way to her luggage, where a black dress was waiting for her to wear.
She grabbed it, looking it over as she was reminded of the funeral she was to be attending in just a few short hours. She could already feel her heart twisting and a knot forming in her stomach, piercing even through the thick numbness that enveloped her. Taking in a breath, she left the room and escaped into the bathroom to get ready. She came out an hour later, her hair braided and pinned up with black-flowered hair pieces. Her dress was simple and completely black, a scooped neck with three round buttons on top of a shimmering lace that covered the top of the dress, before tapering down by her hips. The dress itself cut off right above her knees, where she wore black, see through tights underneath and heels. She had bought it during one of the many trips with Amelia to prepare for the funeral.
Riku was by the doorway to the bedroom as she came out, his expression hard to read as he looked her over. She noticed his gaze and self-consciously grabbed the side of the dress. "I wouldn't normally go all out like this," she told him, her voice soft, "but, James would have loved it."
"I bet he would," Riku agreed, sending her a slight smile, before he turned and went back into the room to get ready.
Hinata sat nervously on the couch, waiting for Riku to come back out. Her thoughts focused on James, even though she tried desperately to think elsewhere. She thankfully didn't have to wait long, as Riku re-emerged from the room wearing his black cloak, the hood concealing his face. Their luggage was in his arms as he went by Hinata, opening the door to their room and leaving. Hinata scurried behind him, closing the door and following him out of the Benbo. They walked in silence to Sam's shop, the cool morning air swirling around them.
As they entered the shop, everything was shut down. The lights were dimmed and the waiting room empty. The Highwind sat in the center of the large trench, completely remade and polished. It appeared larger than before with reinforced hulls and a larger arsenal below deck.
"How did she get this done in three days?" Hinata asked, following Riku onto the deck.
"Well, this was basically all she's been doing," Riku reminded her. "And she wasn't working alone."
Hinata nodded as she looked at the new ship. She went below deck, seeing an entire room had been added, taking out the small library Hinata had been collecting since most of the books had been lost during the battle. She sighed at the loss, but peeked inside the room, seeing the plain bed and empty desk bolted to the floor.
"Good Morning, Hinata!" Ben greeted, getting Hinata's attention. She turned towards him as he scampered towards her from the sparring room with Jack in tow.
Jack nuzzled Hinata's cheek, as she replied, "Good morning, you two." She looked back towards the bedroom, "Sam really changed a lot of things about the ship, huh?"
"All DiZ's idea," Ben informed her. "And you should have seen how many workers were here helping out! She could have built an entire new ship if she wanted to."
Hinata nodded, a slight smile appearing. "Well, I'm glad she was able to get it done. I hope the shop will keep doing well after we leave."
"Oh! You haven't heard?" Ben asked, clasping his hands over his mouth when Hinata whipped her attention to him. "Oh, maybe I shouldn't say."
"Say what?" she asked.
"Well," Ben kicked the ground, "Sam's selling the shop… I mean, she already did sell it, to Clarisse."
"Clarisse…?" Hinata repeated in near disbelief.
"Yeah, the Highwind was Sam's last job," Ben informed her, his gaze averted from hers as if he were telling her a secret. "She told Jim she couldn't stand to be here anymore… So after today, the shop belongs to Clarisse."
"I'm just surprised by the choice," Hinata mused. "I mean… I guess she'd be the most qualified and James probably taught her a lot about the management…" She sighed. "What about Sam's mom? Doesn't she live here too?"
"I wouldn't know about that," Ben admitted. "Sorry you had to hear all that from me…"
"It's fine," Hinata assured him, straining a smile. "I doubt Sam would have told me herself."
"Yeah…" Ben scratched his head, before clearing his throat and asking with a sprightly voice. "So, where are we headed now? Back to Twilight Town?"
"Not yet," Hinata informed him, looking away. "Um, we have James' funeral to go to, first."
"Oh…" Ben's eyes dimmed to blue. "It's still hard to believe that happened…"
"Yeah…" Hinata agreed, licking her lips as she choked back the urge to get emotional.
"The coordinates to it should already be in navigation," Riku said, coming up the stairs from the kitchen below deck, "so we can go whenever you're ready."
"I'll just, get the engines started then." Ben pointed behind him, scurrying up the stairs towards the deck.
"This is really happening," Hinata whispered as Ben disappeared. "I've been trying to convince myself this was all just one horrible dream."
"Things will get better," Riku assured her, before heading towards the deck. Calling behind him, he added, "We should be there in about a half hour. So don't get too comfortable."
"Don't think I could if I tried…" Hinata muttered, following him up the stairs.
Hinata carefully walked off the ship once they had arrived at the funeral, her hands clasped tight in front of her. She looked up at the thick glass dome overhead, showcasing the multitude of stars and planets just outside. Taking a breath, she looked back forward, seeing the bright green grass that covered the courtyard, scattered with gravestones and people, all wearing black and grieving as they gathered near the back of the field.
"This… is really fancy," Riku caught Hinata's attention as he walked up beside her. He gazed around at the pristine cemetery, as Hinata glanced up at him.
"It's a place reserved for heros that died in active duty," Hinata informed him. "At least, that's what Amelia told me… she had to call in a few favors to get him in." She took in a sharp breath, feeling a well of emotion coming up her throat. "But-uh, I… I think it's fitting. He died protecting me… afterall…"
"I think so too," Riku agreed, placing his hand along her shoulder.
She nodded a bit jerkily, reaching her hand over his. "We should, um… probably get over there..."
They stood near the back of the forming crowd, Hinata could see the long cherry wood casket, covered with lavenders and a single glass of blackberry brandy sitting on top. Sam stood near the front, with Jim by her side, but Hinata could barely see her. Instead, she reached over and linked her arm with Riku's, silently listening to the eulogies and speeches loved ones gave.
Riku looked over as he felt Hinata slinking her hand through his arm, but stayed still, knowing she needed what little support he could provide. He could feel her shoulders tremble as she began to cry, joining in with the majority of the crowd that grieved for their loss. He took in a deep breath and scanned the crowd, his eyes stopping on a frail woman that stood beside Sarah. Her build and face reminded him of Sam the moment he saw her, even with her hair being brown and the apparent years in her face. She stood silently, her face emotionless, despite the tears streaming down her cheeks.
Riku leaned over to Hinata's level, whispering, "Is that Sam's mom?"
Hinata followed his gaze, thankful for the slight distraction from the speeches. Her eyes narrowed when she saw the woman. "I-I'm not sure," she replied with a tremble in her voice. "I've never actually met her."
A sudden string of jazz music caught their attention, as James' favorite song played for the audience. Hinata's breath caught, knowing what was coming next; something she had personally orchestrated for the funeral. Every person went up to James with a shot of blackberry brandy. They would say their goodbyes before taking the shot, and leave the glass upside down on the casket. Hinata slowly undid her arm from Riku, taking in a shaking breath. She waited for the line to die down, and the majority of the people to disperse, before she approached James herself. Only a few shot glasses remained as she grabbed one, taking a sniff of the familiar drink James had convinced her to try on countless occasions.
Running her hand along the casket, she felt the overwhelming emotions coming up her throat, making her let out a breathless sob. "James... " She looked up towards the glass dome, focusing on the stars and the gorgeous view to pull herself together. "I never thought this would be how it ended with us…" she muttered. "I thought I'd be able to show you my island someday, reunite you with your dad…" She looked back to his casket, letting out a chuckle mixed with her tears, "Maybe even eventually convince you to ask out Clarisse…" Swallowing hard, she added, "I'm sorry none of that got to happen…"
She looked down at the dark purple liquid in her glass, taking in a breath before she slung her head back and drank it, cringing slightly at the taste of alcohol on her tongue. Placing the glass upside down on the casket, with the others, she told him, "I hope you can finally rest in peace now… I'll always love you..."
Running her hand along his casket once more, she turned and walked back to Riku, linking her arm with him as she reached his side. They stood in silence as the few remaining people said their goodbyes and began to converse amongst themselves, trading memories and stories about their time with James. Sam stayed by Jim's side, mostly staying quiet as people approached her to share their condolences. She occasionally would glance over at Riku and Hinata, her eyes pausing on Hinata, before going back to the people in front of her.
An hour passed before people began to leave the funeral entirely, yet Hinata kept standing silently at Riku's side. Her tear filled eyes focused on the casket as it was beginning to be cleared off and lowered into the ground.
"Is this actually happening…?" she finally asked with a whisper.
"Yeah…" Riku assured her. "I'm sorry, I know it's hard."
She nodded wordlessly in response, leaning her head against his arm. She watched as the last few remaining people left, leaving only Sam with Jim, beside her ship, and the workers cleaning up the aftermath of the funeral. James' casket had been fully moved into the ground, covered with a fresh dirt, in front of a tombstone.
"We should probably get going soon," Riku broke through the emotional haze in Hinata's mind.
She nodded. "Y-yeah, you're right." She removed her arm from his as she stepped forward. "Um… before we go… would you mind if I talked with James?"
Riku looked away, taking in a breath as he felt his heart twist with emotion. "U-um, yeah, of course." he assured her, clearing his throat as she walked away.
Hinata walked up to his tombstone, running her hand along the rough grayed stone as she lowered to her knees. Seeing his name etched into the stone was surreal to her, even as she ran her fingertips along it. She took in a deep breath, lowering her hands to her lap.
"I… I didn't get to say this during the funeral, but—" she closed her eyes, trying to keep herself from breaking down. Despite her efforts, her voice came out strained with emotion. "I just- want you to know… I'm going to keep moving forward, like you wanted. I don't know how quite yet but, I will…" She took in a sharp breath. "Honestly though, James… I would do anything to have you back. I keep expecting you to show up. Every shop I went to with Amelia, I kept seeing you out of the corner of my eye, just hoping, wishing it was you. And you'd just be wearing that smirk of yours and flirt with me as if nothing happened… But you're never actually there. And I can't help but blame myself…" Her bottom lip quivered before she brought one of her hands to her face and began to sob. "I'm so sorry, James!"
A small hand landed on her back, as Hinata felt the presence of someone kneeling beside her. She couldn't bring herself to look up as she continued to cry.
"It's… It's not your fault," Sam's soft voice cut through Hinata's grief.
Hinata froze, her heart jumping as she looked up from her hands, seeing Sam kneeling beside her, tears fresh on her face. Her lavender hair was pinned up, stray pieces falling over her simple long— sleeved, black dress that reached to her knees. Her reddened eyes looked over Hinata as she smiled sweetly, yet a bit uneasily.
"I'm…" Sam downcast her gaze for a moment, "I'm really, really sorry for everything I said." She shook her head, meeting her eyes back with Hinata as fresh tears fell. "This wasn't your fault at all."
Hinata tried to smile back, but instead shook her head in return. "But you were right… James was supposed to get out and I-I wasn't strong enough—"
"James died protecting you," Sam cut her off. "And I tried to be angry and blame you… but.. the only thing you've done since being here on Montressor is care about everyone." She let out a laugh, despite her tears. "It's hard to hate someone who obviously cares so damn much." She wiped away her tears with the back of her hand. "First with the dessert and suite at the Inn. Then this." She motioned around them. "How did you even know all those things about James?"
Hinata took a deep breath. "Um, well—" a smile appeared on her lips as she recalled, "whenever James would drag me out to one of his favorite pub, he'd always make me get at least one blackberry brandy. As he always said, it's the best drink—"
"In the entire quadrant," Sam finished for her with a soft chuckle when Hinata met her gaze. "He was in love with that drink."
"Yeah." Hinata's smile grew. "Even though it's awful."
Sam laughed. "Right?"
Hinata chuckled before adding, "And for the song, whenever he would work on paperwork back in the shop, he'd be in that little kitchen you guys have." She waved her hand. "You know, before you remodeled and he got his office. Um...but, I'd be in there getting a drink or something, and he'd be singing and humming that song to himself, no idea I could even hear him… and I don't know if it was his favorite, but it had a special meaning to me…"
"It was one of the songs my dad used to play around the shop when he worked," Sam told her, noticing the surprised look Hinata gave her. "Harris Concordian, I think was the artist's name… I'd never heard of him. He's not from around here."
Hinata blinked, a slight smile on her face as she nodded. "Um-yeah, I'm pretty sure that's who it ended up being… That's really sweet it was one of your dad's songs."
"Yeah…" Sam nodded, looking up at the gravestone beside them. Her already sore throat constricted with emotion as she averted her gaze. Clearing her throat, she told Hinata, "I'm… sorry I interrupted, I just… I wanted to make sure I set things right with you, before you left."
Hinata shook her head, wiping away her tears. "It's fine, really… You helped a lot." She smiled at Sam, getting a smile in return. "But, before I go… there's something I wanted to give you."
She pushed herself to her feet, running her hand along James' tombstone one last time, before turning and walking towards the ship. Sam was close behind, walking with a somewhat hesitant step. As she saw Hinata go onto the ship and escape below deck, Sam stopped in front of Riku.
"I'm glad you made things up with her," Riku told her with a smirk.
"Yeah, yeah." Sam looked away, trying to appear nonchalant. "It was Jim's idea."
"Still, it'll mean a lot to her," Riku assured her, glancing up towards the gravesite.
"Yeah, me too," she admitted, crossing her arms as she took in a deep breath. "So… this is it, huh?" She looked back at him. "You're heading back to DiZ while I do God knows what here…"
Riku nodded. "You're welcome to come with us."
Sam shrugged, "I don't know… I can't save the galaxy with you forever. God knows James hated me doing that."
"Well whatever happens, stay in touch, alright?" Riku nudged her, his smirk growing.
"Same to you," she replied.
"Alright," Hinata's voice caught their attention as she came off of the ship with a square wooden box in her hands. She slowed to a stop in front of Sam and handed her the box. As Sam began to look it over, Hinata explained, "So… this is the last model ship James made."
"What?" Sam looked up with surprise, taking in a trembling breath as she shakily unlatched the box.
"He gave it to me right before we got captured by Bane," Hinata explained. Sam carefully lifted the model of the Highwind out of the box as Hinata continued, "And… I just— wanted to make sure you got the chance to see it. If you want it, I understand completely, you can have it."
"You knew he made these?" Sam asked, emotion plain in her voice. She examined the ship, a sad smile apparent on her lips.
"Yeah." Hinata nodded with a smile. "He was really good at making them, like scary good."
"Yeah, I know." Sam scoffed with a slight chuckle. She sniffled and placed the ship back in the box. "But, this was a gift to you, from James." She held it back out for Hinata. "I think he'd want you to have it."
"Thank you," Hinata said softly, as she took the box back from her, hugging it against her chest. "There… there was one other thing I wanted to tell you."
"What is it?" Sam asked.
Hinata looked away and took a deep breath. "You remember those tan droids that were in your vision about your dad?"
"You know about that?" Sam asked in disbelief.
Hinata nodded, looking back at her with a smile. "I'm actually the main reason you and Riku went on that mission."
"What?" both Riku and Sam exclaimed.
"Sorry, that's not the point I was trying to make," Hinata shook her head, quickly avoiding their question. "Um, I meant to say, that James and I saw those droids." She met her eyes with Sam's widening ones. "They were on Bane's ship." Sam's mouth fell agape as Hinata motioned towards the ship. "Ben was able to scan them, because we had to destroy a few of them when we were trying to escape. So I can have him transfer that info to you whenever you're ready for it."
"O-on Bane's ship?" Sam stammered, trying to make sense of what she was hearing. "You didn't see my dad on the ship, did you?"
"No— no," Hinata assured her. "From what Ben found out from the scan, I'm pretty sure they're pretty common in Bane's galaxy. But that at least means you know which galaxy he's from and where your dad might be." When Sam simply nodded in response, Hinata stepped forward. "And… I know you don't remember this, but… I promised you that I would help you find your dad…" She paused as Sam met her gaze with hers. "And I'm still prepared to keep that promise if you ever still want the help."
Sam swallowed, nodding once again as she tried to take in all the information. "Thank you… what are you planning on doing now?"
"I'm hoping to go after the Replica that…" Her voice trailed off as she cleared her throat. "But um— I know she's still out there… And she needs to be stopped." She looked up at Sam, a slight smirk teasing her lips. "And I could really use your help, if you're up for it."
Sam's mouth fell agape once again as she glanced up at Riku and then over to Jim, several feet away. "I-I-I'm not sure…" she stammered, stepping back and running her hand through her hair. She took in a deep breath, turning and looking back at her brother's grave. A spark of anger ignited in her chest, a feeling of injustice. "Going after those bastards, huh?" She asked, lowering her hands from her hair and crossing her arms. She nodded as she turned around, a glow of determination in her eyes. "I think James would agree with that." She shook her head. "But, wait, I need to talk to Jim about it to make sure." As she turned to run to him, she looked at Riku. "Don't leave yet, alright?"
"Sure thing," Riku agreed, watching her run off, before he looked towards Hinata. "You sure about this?"
"I know she's still uneasy about me," Hinata admitted, taking in a breath as she watched Sam talking frantically with Jim. "But… I can't take my Replica on my own. And you're going to be busy with Sora. So I need all the help I can get."
"Yeah, I guess you're right," Riku agreed, looking away from Sam as Jim kissed her.
Sam walked back over to them, "Alright… let's take her down."
***Author's Note: Thank you everyone for reading! We're heading back to Twilight Town now! Wooo! Getting into the thick of the story. This chapter was jam packed full of things, but I wanted to make sure we got through everything on Montressor in a single chapter. I love it here, but I really don't want to mess up the pacing with taking my time here.
A lot of mischief and craziness ahead! I'm greatly looking forward to it. A huge thank you to my husband and Jackie, for being such huge supporters and editors for my chapters! I greatly appreciate you both!
I hope everyone has a great week! Until next time!***