Chapter 4: Dinner Time

Riku comes down to the kitchen after settling in to his new room. Dinner was ready. It consisted of spaghetti with cilantro shrimp, spinach, and olive oil mixed together with a side of Caesar salad and biscuits. There were three plates arranged on the table for everyone to eat off of. As Riku came down Nyx comes inside with Shadow on her heels. She goes to the guest bathroom that's right before the entrance of the kitchen to wash her hands. Shadow goes up to Riku and rubs on him to get Riku to pet him. Riku, knowing he's about to eat, refrains. Shadow walks away dejected.

Nyx goes up to Riku, "Oh don't mind him, he's such a baby. He'll come back to beg for some of your food. Or lay under the table." She goes and sits down on a chair by the wall on the other side of the kitchen. He sits next to her. Starlette after cleaning up the stove, sits down across from Nyx. Then they say a prayer.

Our hands we fold, our head we bow. We thank you for these drink and food now and let it nourish our bodies. By the grace of Kingdom Hearts, Amen.

Everyone then starts eating. Once they were finished, they all put their dishes in the sink. Afterwards, they get ready to head out to get Riku's Gummi ship. They walk to the Old Mansion. The moon is high in the sky at this point. The walk is pretty quiet. Then Starlette asks a question. "So Riku, how was your travel here? Was there a lot of Heartless traffic?"

Riku replies. "No, it was smooth sailing here, considering all that's happened here."

They reach the Old Mansion and walk towards Riku's Gummi Ship. He opens the ship to let Nyx and Starlette in. There's enough room to fit up to five people. "Hey Riku, mind if I drive," Starlette asks. "I can show you where we dock registered Gummi ships."

Riku nods in approval and sits in one of the passenger seats. Nyx sits next to him. "Your Gummi ship is really cool," she says. "What's its name?"

He gives her a soft smile, "I named it Highwind."

They arrive at the hanger. It's in a clearing surround by thick trees that act as walls so no one could see through. Starlette explains that the house is within walking distance. As she's registering the Keyblade wielder's Gummi ship she comments on the name. "Now that's a name for a Gummi ship! How did you come up with such a name?"

Riku blushes at the memory of the name. "Well, it was actually a name for a raft my friends and I built to try to leave the island we live on. It was a silly idea." He scratches the back of his head in embarrassment. "We even had a race to see what the name would be. I won, so I named it Highwind."

Riku didn't see it, but alarm showed in their eyes for a brief moment when mother and daughter locked eyes with each other. To keep from looking alarmed, Nyx continues the conversation. "Well it sounds like you had some great memories and even greater friends."

Riku smiles again in agreement. They head back to the house. Once they get back, Shadow greets them with a wagging tail, and Starlette heads upstairs. "I'm going to bed, don't stay up too late," she advises. "You both are waking up early tomorrow." With that she heads towards her room with Shadow on her heels. If Riku didn't understand why they named him Shadow, he definitely understood now.

Nyx starts to head upstairs. "I'm so excited! You'll be coming to Sky High with me tomorrow.

Riku follows her. "Wait, I thought school starts in a few days."

"We have to get you registered and such. I have marching band practice so I have to go to the school anyway." They reach their respective doors. "Well, good night," Nyx says with a smile."

"Good night," Riku replies back with a smile of his own. They both enter their rooms to rest for the night.