Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance

Chapter 8: Realm of Sleep part II

"Joshua, huh?" Sora uttered out with a curious tilt of her head, looking the boy over.

He was a young teen, possibly around Sora's own age. His ashy blonde hair flowed back from the gentle wind, as his lavender eyes gazed back to the girl with a knowing scan. The boy wore a white button down shirt with the collar left open, as well as similarly colored shoes and dark grey pants. Yet despite his rather unremarkable appearance, the presence he exuded was the complete opposite. Even his small smile gave the impression that he was acutely aware of everything going on around him.

While the brown-haired girl stared at him for a few moments, she gradually offered a small smile. "It's nice to meet you as well." she said softly with a nod in greeting, sneaking a quick look at his hands.

"I hope you don't think I'm being rude by asking this but..." she continued, all as the two walked across the rooftops together.

"...what are you?" Sora finished while lifting a brow in curiosity, earning a soft laugh from the boy.

"Not at all, but why the wariness toward me? Have some trust issues?" Joshua asked back in a thoughtful, yet strangely teasing manner.

Sora chuckled softly while shrugging her shoulders, to which she let out a sigh before responding. "Yes and no...it's a bit of a long story." she said in a sheepish tone and smile.

"That's fair, I know a few people with a similar troubles after all." Joshua uttered out silently, almost as though he was thinking aloud.

However, Sora's eyes focused on him once more with a slight narrow. 'He's being deflective. He doesn't want to answer my question and is trying to change the subject.' she thought quickly, leading for her to let out a heavier sigh.

"Of course...my caution isn't unwarranted." the teen added in a more firm manner, giving the impression that she was anticipating something to happen.

"Oh? Does that mean you were expecting someone to come after you?" Joshua asked, his expression becoming puzzled as he continued to look at Sora.

The brown-haired girl simply went silent as she looked forward. Her and the other teen slowly crested over the hotel's roof, upon which they both gazed down to the alley below. Neku could be seen kneeling down close to the the road's end, but he wasn't alone. There was a young girl standing in front of him, whom he appeared to be talking to in a hushed voice. This girl was much younger than Neku, likely only around ten years old, if that.

She donned a black cap over her short blonde hair. Her orange shirt held a black design of a skull and crossbones, but the skull was outlined to look like a heart. She also had on black and yellow shoes, as well as white overalls with the upper half hanging down. And while it was hard to spot, being so high up, Sora also saw a bell-shaped necklace around her neck.

As the brown-haired teen looked toward the pair, she took in a soft breath before responding to Joshua's question. "That depends..." she started, gradually turning toward him with a inquisitive gaze.

"...did you come from the Third District?" Sora finished in a straightforward manner, yet the blond could tell his answer would be anything but simple to the girl.

"No. I've been here, keeping an eye on Rhyme." he answered, giving a brief glance and gesture in the other pair's direction down below.

"Rhyme, huh?" the girl uttered out, shifting her gaze back to the young girl talking to Neku.

"How nice..." she continued in a more silent tone, making Joshua blink a few times.

There was a slight tremble in her voice, as if she didn't want to give this compliment. Which lead the boy to tilt his head and slowly lean over to get a better look at her expression. "Are you...?" he began, but didn't even need to finish.

The girl's pouting features and avoiding gaze was all he need to realize, she was jealous. Seeing his staring, Sora swiftly turned to the side in the hopes of hiding her face. However, it merely gave Joshua the urge to laugh from how amusing it was to see her so envious. "It is a nice name, isn't it?" he uttered out, trying his best not to let out a chuckle.

"Yeah...it is." Sora uttered silently, still pouting deeply.

Her expression eventually returned to normal though, as her next words were spoken in a more serious tone. "There are some other questions I have for you, but I think they can wait for now."

"At least until after I've helped them." she continued as her gaze moved back to Neku and Rhyme.

Both of whom met Sora's stare, having noticed her and Joshua watching from above. The two then rapidly moved upward, using Flowmotion to swing and flip themselves onto the rooftop. Once they landed next to the pair, Neku let out a soft breath as though in mild disappointment. "I'm guessing she's not your game partner." Sora concluded aloud, nodding in understanding to his reaction.

"Yeah, and she also hasn't found hers either." the orange-haired boy said, looking down to the girl as she was glancing to the time counting down on her palm.

Rhyme then lifted her eyes to the others and offered a soft smile. There was a fire of determination in her demeanor as she quickly spoke in a very upbeat tone, almost to the point of being inspiring. "But I know for certain that he's somewhere in this town. Just like I'm sure your game partner is too, Neku."

Hearing this, Sora couldn't help but smile back in response. She was normally the one to cheer people up with her words and smile, but this young child was having the same effect on her. "That's the spirit~." she all but sang out in a prideful manner, feeling like she would most certainly get along well with Rhyme.

"She also mentioned that she has looked through this whole district already...and hasn't found anyone else. So we'll probably have better luck elsewhere." Neku said while shrugging, giving a brief glance around the area as he was clearly worried that they might run out of time.

His gaze swiftly focused on Joshua however, almost as though he was asking the other boy for help. But the blond merely shrugged his shoulders, offering an expression of regret in Neku's direction. After seeing their exchange, the brown-haired girl couldn't help but gain a curious look.

'There is definitely something going on with this whole 'game' business. I'm guessing that Joshua is someone of importance, possibly even the one running it. It does seem the most likely, considering his presence...and the fact that he doesn't have that timer on his palm.' she mused, having not seen such a projection when checking Joshua's hands.

'Unless I ask outright though, I don't think I'm gonna get any further answers. But before I do that...' Sora continued inwardly as her gaze ever so briefly moved toward the Third District's direction.

"Well it's hard to search alone." the brown-haired girl spoke up, offering a small smile while turning back to the group.

"You can run around in circles for hours and miss your target every time, so the best way to find anyone is with a group. After all, it's significantly easier to spot something or someone when you have eyes and ears in more places than one." she explained softly, making the others nod slowly in agreement.

Despite his acknowledgment, Neku's eyes narrowed slightly while looking from Sora, to Rhyme. He could tell where the brown-haired girl was going with her words, and didn't want to leave the younger teen on her own again. Him feeling responsible for making sure she stayed safe. "I assume you're suggesting that we split up?" he questioned, his head almost snapping back to face Sora.

"Exactly, but it all depends on whether or not Joshua is willing to help out." Sora claimed as her gaze drifted over to said blond.

Whom arched a brow briefly, as he had already rejected Neku's plea mere moments ago. Yet as his mouth opened to give an instinctive response, he almost immediately paused. As the teen looked at Sora and her hard stare, he couldn't help but gain a small smile while nodding in response. "Alright, I don't mind lending a hand...at least this once." he answered calmly and smoothly.

'He understood my meaning. And it looks like he's just playing it off as if he agreed on a whim.' Sora thought as an amused smirk tugged at the corners of her lips.

She soon turned to the other two, wordlessly asking if they were okay with the idea. But while Rhyme immediately gave a nod of her head, Neku seemed a bit more hesitant in giving his answer. Not just from his own inner conflict, but also from the surprise that Joshua suddenly decided to help. This spurred Sora to pat him on the shoulder and give a smile of encouragement. "Don't worry, she won't be going by herself." she claimed confidently, giving Rhyme a proud glance.

"Not that she needs help, she's already made it this far on her own after all." Sora continued with a wide grin, to which the other girl returned this expression with a mirroring one.

Neku blinked a few times from her words, yet he nodded his head in response. "Fine, whatever." he uttered out in a huff, hiding his gratefulness to how attentive she was being.

"Perfect~. Then how about Joshua and Rhyme re-search the Second District, while Neku and I head back to the First." Sora began in a cheerful manner.

While Joshua and Rhyme looked to one another with a share glance of understanding, Neku's eyes widened ever so slightly. He was both shocked and worried, as if suddenly being reminded of something he was trying to forget. Even as he appeared ready to voice a concern, Sora continued on with her plan before he could. "We'll make our separate ways to the Third District and meet up on the outside of the entrance to the Fourth. From there, we'll search it, and the Fifth District together."

The others all looked to one another, not appearing to have an issue with this idea. But there was a faint sign of apprehension from Neku. His demeanor was swiftly becoming one of slight panic, like he was being driven into a corner. However, he just offered another slow nod along with Joshua and Rhyme, both of whom seemed to be eager to start. Sora just smiled happily to each of them, to which she then turned to Rhyme and knelt down. "But since we wanna stay safe..."

"I have a gift for you." she said in a gentle tone, waving for the younger girl to come closer.

As she approached with a curious gaze, Sora made a few flourish hand motions. Upon which, a small ball of white energy solidified between her fingers. It letting off a silent hum and soft glow as she offered it to Rhyme. "I want you to have this." she whispered with a wink to the other girl.

Whom blinked many times from this 'magic trick', almost mystified by it. She then took the orb into her own hand, gaining a smile as she did. "It's warm and tingly." she hummed out, letting out of soft giggle afterwards.

"If you encounter any Nightmares who give you too much trouble, this will keep you safe." Sora said confidently, sharing her courage with Rhyme.

"Thank you." she responded in a polite tone, even bowing her head in the process.

Sora herself smiled back to this, to which she stood up and glancing to Joshua briefly. Her gaze being one that asking him to keep an eye on the young girl, for which he nodded in a nearly invisible manner. "Alright~!" the brown-haired teen started excitedly, turning back to Neku.

The boy's unsure expression almost being too easy to read at this point. However, Sora pretended not to notice and pointed directly ahead. "Lets find your friends." she called out, to which she rushed off toward the First District.

At the same time, Joshua and Rhyme looked to one another and headed off across the rooftop of the hotel. The pair seeming to be just as enthusiastic as Sora herself. Though Neku remained still for a moment, he quickly charged after the brown-haired girl. His conflicted gaze seeming to have overcome him as he was barely even able to focus on Sora's form directly ahead. "I should tell her..." he whispered silently, yet soon shook his head in defiance of his own thoughts.

"No. He told me not to." Neku continued as he slid across the peak off a roof, before swiftly jumping onto another.

"But..." the orange-haired teen uttered in a soft groan, unable to decide what he should do.

All the while, Sora glanced over her shoulder toward Neku. She couldn't hear him, but she had a few guesses about his inner disputes. Yet it was mere seconds before they both arrived atop the archway for the Third District's entrance. This providing a perfect view of nearly everything for both the First and Third Districts. But as Neku landed next to Sora, his eyes immediately widened, like he hadn't been paying attention to where they were going until now. His narrowing gaze swiftly began scanning the latter area, clearly searching for something or someone specific.

This didn't go unnoticed by the brown-haired girl, yet she once again pretended not to see it as she simply looked around the First District. Her demeanor was lax, appearing as if she wasn't expecting anything to happen. "The First District is pretty simple to search since it's pretty small, huh?" she spoke up, glancing to the boy slowly.

"Y-Yeah." Neku uttered back with a nod, his eyes eventually shifting to the First District, yet never seemed to focus on anything.

It was only a few minutes of looking, yet the boy kept finding himself looking to the District behind them more than the one directly ahead. Though he swiftly turned to Sora as she spoke once more, almost snapping him out of a daze. "Guess there isn't anyone else here." she claimed with a shrug of her shoulders.

"Y-Yeah, looks like it." he said silently, Neku becoming more and more nervous.

"Shall we start searching the Third then?" Sora claimed, more than asked while immediately leaping down.

As she did, Neku took in a sharp breath, ready to say something. A sinking feeling welled up in his stomach when watching the girl land on the ground below. "Sora..." he started, both fists clenching slightly as he finally made his decision.

"There's something I should tell-" Neku continued, but was instantly cut short when a familiar figure in a black coat appeared behind Sora.

Starting off with some character interactions before getting into the real meat of this part. I decided to add some inner conflict for Neku since I thought it would bring a bit more depth to his character. As well as show that he is at least skeptical of what might be done to Sora. Anyway, I hope all of you enjoyed this chapter and will let me know what you thought.

Until next time.