Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts or its characters.
A young man with blonde hair and a clean cut goatee stood in the library. He was youthful, though he had a sense of maturity about him… and the facial hair wasn't the cause for that entirely. He looked over, showing a hopeful yet solemn look in his eyes; he seemed so emotionally drained.Spiritually drained.
He removed a book from the shelf, a clover on both its spine and front cover. He opened it part way and procured a pocket knife. He flipped it open and started carving away a rectangle, albeit messy, in some of the pages. He looked around, as though afraid someone was going to walk in on him. Once finished, he closed the knife and pocketed it before bringing out a small jar, one you would find in the miniatures or charms section of a hobby and craft store.
Inside the jar was a four leave clover. Was it real? Was it artificial? It wasn't clear as to how it was, all that was was that this man stuck the jar into the rectangle he carved out. He closed the book and put it on the shelf where it originally came from. He then gathered up the parts of the pages that he carved out, hiding them in another area. He then looked over again.
"As nice as luck is, Sora, you need another key." he said. "Keep this place in mind, love." He then ran out of the room.
And Sora jolted from his sleep, sitting up.
"Whoa, gonna give a ghost a heart attack." Marluxia said, sitting on the bench seat by the window. "Did you have a nightmare?"
"No, a vision, I think." Sora turned on his lamp and grabbed the notebook Zexion left with him. It was small and perfect for travel; even better, it had the notes the other wrote down about what Sora has felt and seen, from the manor itself to the clues they got. "Someone hid a charm in the library; he even looked at me, called me by name, told me it was another key."
"Was it Ventus again?" Marluxia asked.
"No, he was this gentleman-looking guy with facial hair; he was blonde, too." Sora said. "And he had an accent."
Marluxia jolted. "Luxord… did he have piercings in his ears? And was his facial hair a goatee style?"
"Huh? Yeah, that's right. He even told me though luck is nice, but I would need the key instead." Sora responded. "Ironic almost since it was a four leave clover in a bottle."
"That definitely sounds like Luxord." Marluxia sighed. "It's… almost nice knowing he's helping, but it's sad knowing he's stuck there..."
"Don't fret too much, Mar; we'll get him out." Sora assured. "We'll get all of them out."
"I have faith we will." Marluxia nodded. "Well, four down."
"And three to go." Sora finished, the two smiling.
"Huh? Just to go out? No research? No video editing? Nothing like that?" Sora asked, seeing Riku sitting in his kitchen.
"Go on, Sora, it's nice to go out with a friend, isn't it?" Saïx asked. "He said the others are doing some interviews today, and since you aren't involved in those parts until it's time to put them in the video and Riku did one yesterday, I think it's fun for you both to go out."
"See? Saïx knows what's fun." Riku said.
"And leave Marluxia home with me." Saïx reminded. "We'll get along."
"I'm down for some board games; I got enough energy for those." Marluxia said.
"Nnn..." Xemnas grumbled, seeming almost like a zombie as he walked in. "Oh… someone's here…"
"Yup, Riku came to ask Sora out on a date." Saïx said. "You look like you could use more sleep."
"Food first… my stomach is cramping..." Xemnas mumbled and going to sit down, head on the table. He then sat up, seemingly wide awake. "Wait… date?!" He looked to Sora before actually glaring at Riku.
"A date is technically an outing between two or more people, not always romantic, just social at times." Sora reminded. "Ours is social."
"Oh… right." Xemnas rubbed the back of his head as he looked away.
"I bet So-So wishes it was the other kind." Marluxia snickered, earning a small chuckle from Saïx and a glare from Sora.
"Well, Sora, why not go on out, huh? I gave Riku money so you both can go out to eat breakfast." Saïx said.
"I can't guarantee ghosts won't be involved… they're kinda everywhere..." Sora admitted.
"That's fine; it's interesting seeing you interact with them anyway." Riku assured.
Sora nodded and went over to kiss Xemnas on the cheek. "I'll be going out then." he said, then going over to hug Saïx.
"I'll make sure he's back in a timely manner." Riku said.
"You better, it's a school night." Xemnas said.
Riku nodded and led Sora outside and to his car, even opening the passenger door for him. "So… any diners you like that are… less haunted?"
"Haunted kind of gives it an idea that it's bad." Sora said. "But there is a nice place on Rochester Avenue that's mild in terms of ghostly activity. The only ghost I've noticed is the original owner of the place; he likes to see customers come and be happy; sometimes he gets after employees for not doing their job right or even guests who try to cheat their ways out of paying. Not that they can hear him."
"Then let's go." Riku said, driving off.
"Yeah, we all know where this guy wants to go." came a man's voice, making Sora glance in the rear view mirror. There, looking much like Riku, though with greener eyes, was a ghostly male. "Look, I know my nephew, he's got the biggest crush on you." He smirked. "I know you hear me, Sora. Yeah, I know who you are. Hard not to with this idiot."
Great… Riku just had to have a ghost in his car… Sora thought. But… wait… he's got a crush on me? Learning this made Sora blush a little.
"Ah, don't worry about me. I can tell by your eyes. Oh no, Riku's got a ghost in his car. Is this ghost trapped here? Nope. I just follow Riku sometimes, make sure he's okay." the ghost said. "Gotta look after my nephew, even after death. I'm Kadaj, by the way."
Sora smiled a bit. He would start talking, but he didn't think he should let Riku know the ghost of his uncle was practically babysitting him on occasion. It did amuse him, though. It reminded him of one of the ghosts at the orphanage he was at when he was brought to Radiant Garden. She was a caring ghost, looking after others. She was the one that was less frightening of the ghosts there.
"So… um… Sora." Riku said, getting the brunette's attention. "After breakfast… is there anything you want to do? Go on a walk? Catch a movie?"
"Make out in an empty lot or something?" Kadaj added.
Not needed, Kadaj. Sora thought. "Hmm, it's actually been a while since I've gone to the movies. And there's a musical movie playing. Unless you'd rather see something else."
"You like musicals?" Riku asked. "I do, too. Especially Disney stuff."
"The only thing he has more of than his anime collection is his Disney collection." Kadaj pointed out.
"Well, I think it is Disney." Sora chuckled.
It didn't take too much longer for the duo to reach the diner and sit down and order their food. They sat and talked, talking plenty about Disney movies, musicals, and trying to stay away from the subject of ghosts. At least until Sora saw a little girl accidentally leave behind a toy ring she most likely got from a quarter machine.
Sora got up and grabbed the ring to take back to the girl. That was went his mind flashed.
A maid opened up the pantry. She looked worried as she pulled out a ring. It hung on a chain; she had kept it in the top of her clothes. She glanced around before hiding the ring. She then looked over, finger to her lips as though she were hushing someone.
"Oh. Um, wait a sec, ma'am." Sora went after the family and knelt by the little girl. "Try not to lose it, okay? Seems special."
"Thank you!" the little girl cheered.
"You're very welcome." Sora said, getting back up and returning to Riku.
"A little hero." Riku chuckled.
"And with a vision." Sora said. Riku eyed Sora. "Another key. It's a ring hidden in the pantry."
"And you got that from the kid's ring?" Riku asked. "Was it… psychometry?"
"Not exactly, though it acted almost like it." Sora responded. "It was mainly clairvoyance. I think that's the one I'm thinking of. There's so many different types of psychic abilities."
"Wow." Riku said. "So, that just leaves… three more?"
"Two more. A dream last night told me of a clover charm in the library." Sora responded.
"Well, we're on a roll." Riku said. "And don't worry, Sora, I'm sure we'll figure out how to help the others. If we're lucky, we can do it Saturday and safely record the house on Sunday."
"It's gonna take more than luck." Sora said.
"Well, that, keys, and pretty much three psychics." Riku said. "One being talented in more than one area and extremely cute." He then went wide eyed and covered his mouth. "Um… I mean..."
"Yeah, I know what you mean. You mean what you say because you have a crush on me." Sora said before realizing what he just said. "Um..."
"How did you know?" Riku asked. "Oh no… you're a mind reader?"
"No, empath yes, but that's mainly towards family and Zexion… but..." Sora sighed. "Your uncle Kadaj is a ghost who follows you because he thinks it's his duty to look after you and he knows you have a crush on me and told me while we were in the car."
Riku paused, letting that sink in. "Actually… I'm not at all surprised." he admitted.
"If it makes you feel better, I have a crush on you, too. Since seventh grade." Sora said, hoping it would help.
Riku chuckled. "I was in the sixth grade… and it made me feel bad that I kept picking on you, but..."
"Ah, the past is behind us." Sora said.
"Yeah." Riku nodded. "So… um… dating..."
"Not quite yet… but… maybe soon." Sora said, smiling.
"Daddy, Papa, I'm home." Sora said, getting home about half past five.
"How was it, Sora?" Saïx asked.
"You didn't come home with a boyfriend, did you?" Xemnas asked, definitely being protective.
"Don't mind your father, he just doesn't listen when I tell him not to be totally obvious." Saïx sighed.
"It went well." Sora said. "And we're not dating yet." He smiled and went up the stairs. "I'm gonna get my shower before supper."
"Okay, honey." Saïx called after his son.
"Wait… yet?" Xemnas asked.
"Get with the program, dear." Saïx said, returning to the kitchen.
"Did he just say yet?"
"Honey..."
"Yet?"
"I think hubby is in shock." Marluxia pointed out.
"He'll get over it." Saïx sighed.
"YET?!"
Heyo, lovelies!
Ah, look at good ol' Xemmy being a good daddy and worrying about the idea of his baby boy dating. I can't use any experience for writing that, actually, since my parents didn't worry about me in the world of dating due to an incident in preschool while playing "house" with other kids. Anyway! Riku and Sora both acknowledge their crushes on each other. That's always a good start!
Hopefully you all enjoyed this chapter. Until next time!
~chibi