Chapter 33: For Those Who Fight Further

"Leon!" Yuffie shouted suddenly. "I think that's going to have to wait!"

Everyone turned to see what she was worrying about.

More Heartless were starting to appear.

Cid swore.

"This cannon's going to take an hour to charge! I only fired that last shot because I thought we were going to be done!"

His rant continued, but he had slipped back into swearing. Aerith started scolding him for that, and Sora couldn't help but laugh.

"We're regrouping!" Leon called over Cid (who was now badmouthing the Heartless). "Sora, you're with me, Yuffie—you're with Aerith. Cloud stays with Cid."

Cloud frowned, not seeming to like the thought of having to stay with the still swearing Cid. He, however, didn't say anything.

"Let's go Sora," Leon said, running off.

Sora nodded and followed.

xxx

"You don't know how to use magic?" Leon asked, again. Though, they way he said it this time, he might as well have said: "How do you not know how to use magic?"

Sora shrugged.

"I've only been using my Keyblade for a month," he replied. Noting Leon's very confused expression he added: "I know I've had it longer, but there were these three months where I went missing, and I'm almost positive I did not fight during that time."

At this Leon seemed to get more confused. "Missing?" he muttered, glancing at Sora as if he was crazy. "You didn't know where you-"

"I don't remember most of it," Sora said quickly.

Leon paused, considering this. After a moment he must have decided it made sense (or at least decided not to ask further questions) because he stopped looking at Sora as if he was crazy and returned to killing Heartless.

Sora shrugged and did the same.

A thought occurred to him after a moment, though, and he turned to Leon again.

"Did Riku not tell you about this?" he asked.

"We haven't seen Riku in three months," Leon replied.

"Really?" Sora muttered, shocked.

I assumed he would have searched here. This has to be the most obvious place that I might have shown up!

Unless he only searched the Castle…

Sora shook his head and went back to killing the Armored Knights.

"Careful!" Leon called, taking out a Guardian that was sneaking up on Sora with some fire magic.

Sora laughed nervously. "Thanks."

Leon sighed. "First lesson in magic," he said. "You need to stay focused. You can't cast if you can't focus."

Sora nodded.

"Focus," he repeated. "Got it—Whoa!" He quickly dodged out of the way of one Armored Knight and then blocking another.

"Focus!" Leon called.

"I know, I know," Sora replied, driving his blade through an Armored Knight.

"You can't focus?" came the taunting laugh of his Shadow, from somewhere.

Sora's nostrils flared, but he ignored the voice. He didn't even look around to see if he could see his Shadow anywhere.

He wasn't going to give his Shadow the satisfaction of talking back.

xxx

The Heartless just kept coming.

And coming.

And coming.

Currently, Sora was paired with Aerith. The Heartless kept showing up in different groups with different types of Heartless per group. This current group had a lot of Guardians and Snapper Dogs. However, Aerith was quickly killing them with her magic. Sora just continued with the hack and slash, though Aerith was trying to get him to use magic. She had explained how it worked and everything. Sora still wasn't too sure.

"Come on, it's easy!" Aerith urged yet again. "You just have to focus your energy."

"I know," Sora sighed.

"Just give it a shot!" Aerith pleaded. "What harm could it do?"

"Fine…" Sora muttered.

Aerith clapped her hands together, all too excited.

"Start with fire!" she suggested. "Fire's easy!"

Focus my thoughts and my energy, Sora sighed. Right…

He aimed his Keyblade at a nearby Snapper Dog and gritted his teeth. He closed his eyes and gathered his energy.

A sudden heat filled the air and Aerith cheered.

"You did it!"

Sora slowly opened his eyes. The Snapper Dog in front of him was on fire, and soon faded.

"Hey!" Sora laughed, a grin forming on his face.

"Just don't overdo it," Aerith warned. "Magic drains a lot of your strength. You'll run out if you overuse it."

Sora nodded.

"I'll remember that," he said.

It was late afternoon by the time the Heartless stopped coming. Exhausted, everyone made their way back inside. Cid started cooking right away (well, right after his cannon was put away).

Within fifteen minutes, he was carrying over a large pot of soup.

"I went ahead and mixed a few elixirs in," Cid explained. "This should definitely refresh us after that long day."

"You're kidding!" Yuffie whined. "I just cured!"

Aerith laughed at that, and even Cloud smiled slightly.

"Oh, Sora! I have something for you!" Aerith said, digging through her pockets. "I meant to give it to you sooner, but- well… it's been hectic."

She pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to him. Sora frowned, wondering what this was. After a second he unfolded it and read it.

xxx

Sora

I really don't have anything interesting to say, I'm just sending you a bunch of letters hoping ONE of them will reach you. I don't even know if one will, but like I've said probably a million times now, it was Namine's idea.

Where are you, Sora? Why aren't you home yet?

I miss you.

Come.

Home.

- Kairi

xxx

Sora paused, and then read the letter again.

And again.

It's from Kairi…

When did she write this? he wondered, frowning at the paper. She hadn't put a date on it or anything.

And… she's written, how many?

She hadn't been very clear on that either. "Millions" was obviously an exaggeration, but it had to have meant she sent a lot, for it to feel like a million.

Where have they all gone?

He tried pondering that, briefly considered asking Aerith if she had any idea, but his mind got caught on other things.

But… but…

She wrote me a letter.

She wrote me MULTIPLE letters.

She misses me… She wants me to come home…

So… she doesn't hate me?

He shook his head and then slowly folded the letter up and stuck it in his pocket.

"Who's Kairi?" Aerith asked, sounding too excited for Sora's mood.

"She's-" Sora began. He took a second before continuing. "She's a friend of mine. I haven't seen her in a while."

"You should go see home and see her!" Cid laughed.

Sora swallowed.

"It does sound like she misses you," Aerith added with a shrug.

Sora turned away, tears threatening to form in his eyes.

They don't know… they don't know…

Oh gosh, how can I even face Kairi? I can't go home. I can't—

She MISSES me?

How can she—

Finally, he stood up. "I'm going to bed…" he muttered, heading off to his room before they could say any more.

He sat down on his bed and pulled the letter out, reading it again.

"Kairi misses me…" he whispered.

A warmth spread through him at that. He folded the letter back up and shoved it in his pocket again. He lay down on his bed and sighed.

"Kairi misses me…" he repeated, closing his eyes.