Search Party
By Kikofreako
Summary:
Sora's whereabouts are unknown, Kairi has some strange power, and what's up with this Blonde Haired Kid that's carrying around a set of Keyblades? Everything's spinning out of control as Donald, Goofy, the Destiny Islands crew and the FF crew are jammed together in efforts to find a certain brunette. SoraXKairi Some: Squiffie and SelphieXTidus.
Disclaimer:
The only thing I own in this story is Kxerrix. Please don't steal her- she will get mad. And when Kxerrix gets mad, bad things happen...
The Random Quote of d00m:
"I didn't intend for him to be used like this!" -Vexen
XxX
Axel let out a stream of curses, one for approximately every letter of the alphabet. He'd killed Vexen at Castle Oblivion. Yet he'd just witnessed a meeting between him and the Queen Of Hearts. A disastrous meeting. The extended Stopga spell had given Vexen time, although Axel had no idea how he was able to pull of such a complex piece of magic. No matter now. He traced a small sphere in the air, charging it with darkness. Marluxia's face appeared, cross as always.
"We've got a problem," Axel whispered fiercely. The Queen and her cronies were right below him, after all. The last thing he needed was an bumbling troupe of cards on his tail.
"Axel, you better not have screwed up again, or so help me-"
"Shut up, you idiot! Vexen came an inch away from spilling our plan to her!"
Marluxia's face took on a deathly pallor, his white face sharply contrasting his magenta hair. "You killed Vexen! There's no such man!"
"I just saw him, Marluxia. The -bleeping- son of a -beep- just showed up!"
He tapped on a table, massaging his temples. "Kxerrix is not going to be happy when she hears about this."
"You think I was?"
He sighed again. "What were they saying?"
"I don't know. I wasn't close enough to tell."
"YOU DIDN'T-"
"Quiet down!" he hissed. "You want to give away my position? Anyways, I couldn't have gotten closer. Remember Vexen's sense of smell?"
His brow furrowed as he tried to call back the erased memory. Axel cursed again to himself, quickly trying to cover up his mistake. A recall was not what they needed at the moment, either.
"Never mind. Get you and Kxerrix on a gummi. I'll meet you here." He terminated the link.
XxX
"What the..." Kairi trailed off. Vexen was gone. She whirled around at the sound of a small click resounding in the air-the Stopga spell had worn off. Yuffie teetered for a second, than fell right on top of Leon. Blushing furiously, she pushed herself off of him, still feeling his warm leather jacket against her bare stomach. Leon coughed and tried to stop the heat rising up his neck. "What just happened?" he asked quickly.
"I, uh..." Kairi looked nervous, tracing a pattern in the dust with the toe of her sandal. Think, Kairi, think... "The Queen must have caught up with us and played a little trick." Crap.
Tidus sighed. "We always have the crazies, don't we?"
Donald looked ticked. Muttering to himself, he dusted off his mage's uniform. "Let's go. No Heartless."
Selphie giggled.
XxX
Tyson stepped into the gummi ship and let his mind wander as Donald revved the engines, his feathers still a bit ruffled by the Queen's practical joke. (No pun intended, people.) Or was it the Queen...He looked over at Kairi, who was stroking her Keyblade and staring out into nothing. She was hiding something. Tyson was sure of it. The Queen didn't have enough magic to freeze all of them at once- if he wasn't mistaken, that was an elaborate spell.
What's she hiding...
XxX
Kairi closed her eyes and sat back in her seat, sighing deeply. Time to use a technique that Tidus had taught her back when she was waiting for Sora. Gather the facts.
1. Vexen either wants to help us or is trying to lead us into a trap in Deep Jungle.
2. Vexen didn't hurt any of us in Wonderland.
3. Tyson is a Duel Wielder and has dealt with the Organization before. So have Donald and Goofy.
4. I am a Princess Of Heart and therefore one of the Organization's targets.
She stopped there. She wasn't sure if she even was a Princess of Heart- things were happening to her that sure hadn't been happening to the other princesses. Well, at least when she was there with them...maybe it was happening everywhere, to everyone. She massaged her temples. So much for facts. Guess it was improv from now on.
XxX
Wakka dribbled his Blitzball absentmindedly against the metal floor of the gummi, almost as bored as he had been at Selphie's piano recital when he was six. All this travel was ridiculous; they should just be warping from place to place. But no, Donald and Goofy were too nervous. 'What if the walls don't let us through?' or 'This ship's too battered to get to warp speed'. Whatever. He turned his attention to Tyson and Kairi, who were both immersed in their own little fantasy-worlds. They had both been acting strange lately...well, actually, he couldn't really tell with Tyson, considering they had just met. But his behavior seemed abnormal.
Man, I'd give almost anything to get inside their heads right now.
XxX
A small squelch sounded as the ramp landed on muddy ground, leafy greenery surrounding the ship on all sides. Against the lush tropical paradise, the brightly-colored ship seemed out of place, in the loosest sense of the phrase. Vines snaked around eucalypts trees, and brightly colored tree frogs hopped around lazily. Hippos sat in small pools of stagnant water, blowing out softly. If you listened, you could hear faint trills of birdsong from the canopy. Everyone stood in awe for a moment at the picturesque seen enveloping them.
"It's like a paradise..." Selphie murmured softly.
Then, she was bowled over by a gorilla. Her scream exploded over the formerly tranquil rainforest, sending birds scattering in all directions. "EEEEEKKK! GET IT OFF! GET IT OFF!"
A woman clicked softly. "Come on, Terk. She's fine." The little gorilla jumped off a grimacing Selphie, who was trying to wipe mud off her jeans. Gathering the little parcel up in her arms, the woman smiled at the group.
"'Ello, Miz Jane." Goofy said, tipping his hat politely.
"Miz Jane's" brown hair was pulled up into a messy ponytail. She wore a simple white tank top, in addition to a wine colored sarong tied loosely around her waist. Shifting the gorilla to her waist, she adjusted the grip on a small parcel in her left hand and attempted to bend down and pick up a few stray sheets of paper while keeping a grip on a tattered notebook. Bending down, Yuffie picked up the yellowed pages. Various drawings and notes scribbled in a neat cursive danced across the pages. "Here ya go," she said.
"Oh, thank you so much," Jane answered, her European accent becoming evident. "It seems I've been losing everything these days! Can I get some tea for you?"
Donald cleared his throat, businesslike. "We're just here to check for Heartless-" He was cut off as Terk knocked the duck over, sending him head over heels. "Oh no, not HIM again!"
"Yup. Same as allers."
XxX
Leon muttered under his breath and hacked away at impending foliage as Yuffie trailed him, talking incessantly. He could live with searching the canopy for Heartless-even maybe deal with having Yuffie as a search partner-but why did she have to have sugar before they left...
"So then I'm like 'No way go get your own, girl!' And she's like 'Geez you're such an idiot!' Do you think I was right Squall? Cause I'm not really-"
"It's Leon. And can you please stop talking? You're giving me a headache."
She shot him a look. "Touchy, aren't we?"
"More like human..." he mumbled to himself.
"What did you say!" He felt a hand on his shoulder that spun him around so that he was staring right into Yuffie's face.
"Nothing."
"You said something."
"Will you just leave me alone?"
"Fine. Be that way." She was silent. After waiting for about five seconds, he turned and continued probing the foliage, watching each step. One false move could send them crashing down.
Yuffie brooded to herself. I try to be nice, and he just sits there and insults me! She cut away a piece of vine foolish enough to get in her way and stomped onward. He's so cold. I wonder why... The ninja turned her gaze to the young man silently cutting away protruding greenery. If I could just get him to talk to me...I'm sure he would want to spend time with me... "Sq- I mean, Leon?"
He turned around. "Yeah?"
"I, uh, just wanted to say-" Suddenly, her foot crashed through a gap between two branches. Screaming, she stated to fall through the leaves, sprigs scratching her legs and stomach. Then she jerked upwards as a strong hand gripped her wrist. Heaving her onto a sturdy branch, Leon and Yuffie pressed together and watched the entire section of the tree fall apart, a good five seconds passing until a small splash below. Yuffie leaned her head back on his chest, trying to calm her racing heart. That was, until she realized the position she and Squall were in. Hastily, they both pulled apart, cheeks rosy. Both panted for a moment, in awe of what had just almost happened. Then Leon straightened.
"Now, what was it that you wanted to ask me?"
"I, uh..." She frantically tried to think on her feet. "I wanted to know...if that leather jacket makes you overheat."
XxX
"That dumb monkey got mud all over my jeans!" Selphie wailed. "These are designer! My mom's gonna KILL me!"
Kairi sighed and rolled her eyes. "But she'll be fine with you fighting darkness."
"Ha ha ha. You're hilarious." She picked a leaf off of her hot pink baby tee, flicking it onto the ground. "Why are we in this deep in the bamboo, anyways? I don't think Heartless could even fit in here."
"I'll explain later, okay?"
Selphie turned to face her. "No. It's not okay. You've been acting weird for this whole trip. What's going on, Kairi? I'm your best friend...you can tell me."
Kairi bit her lip. "Listen, it's complicated, okay? I don't want to talk about it." She resumed walking. Selphie blocked her path, hurt shining in her hazel eyes.
"So you don't trust me enough to tell? I thought we were friends."
"Selphie-"
They both turned as something crashed through the thicket. Selphie drew her fans, the serrated edges glinting dangerously. Kairi just stood there. That's it. It's Vexen. He just wanted me to get in some private space so that he could kill me with no one seeing. I'm so stupid. And now Selphie's going to die too, because of my stupid mistake. Flinching, she turned her face away as the figure appeared. Stunned, Selphie lowered her fans. "Who in the heck are you?"
The girl spoke quickly, bright blue eyes shining. "There's no time. Just follow me."
"Hold on one second-" Selphie started, then stopped as she felt a hand on her arm.
Kairi flashed her a small smile. "It's okay."
They followed her though the thicket, brushing past eleven-foot-tall bamboo stalks. Selphie was muttering something under her breath, obviously angry. Oh well. She'd learn in a little bit anyways. Kairi turned her attention to the girl. She had on a white jumper and strappy sandals, with pale skin that suggested that she hadn't been outside much. Her blonde hair was cropped so that it framed her face- much like Kairi's old cut, before she had decided to grow it out. But those eyes...they were a piercing, sky blue, seeming to cut right into your heart, revealing all of your darkest secrets. In her right hand, she held a sketchbook. Dog-eared pages and looseleaf paper stuck out of the book haphazardly. The girl stopped short in a small clearing. "I've got her here. Someone else came too, though."
Vexen seemed to materialize behind Kairi. Yelping, she jumped back. "Knock it off. I still don't trust you."
Selphie drew her fans again and went into a crouching position, eyes narrowed. "What's the Organization scum doing here?"
"I am not 'Organization scum' as you so gracefully put it," Vexen said deadpan. "You are not even supposed to be here. Only her." He pointed at Kairi.
"Look, Tyson made us go in pairs. It's safer."
"Understandably. Now. One of your friends-" Suddenly, his brow furrowed and Vexen fell to his knees, grunting.
"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid that's more than enough," Another dark coat appeared from the shadows. Her face was framed by golden tresses that went halfway down her back. Tendrils of hair swept past her face, small, blood-red beads threaded in here and there accented by full, pink lips. Her eyes were a shining gold. "This time, when you're killed, stay dead."
"KIIII-YAH!" A fan struck her in the side of her face, throwing the woman off balance. A small trickle of blood appeared. Selphie caught her fan in midair as it returned like a boomerang, and she was shaking a bit. "Nobody move! No one, understand?"
"Selphie! Kairi!" Tidus, Wakka, Donald, Goofy, Riku, and Tyson came crashing into the scene, all weapons drawn. In a trice, both of the black-coated figures were surrounded.
XxX
Kxerrix swore. That Vexen was laying waste to all of their finely laid plans. Time to move. Balling her fist, she opened her heart and let the darkness gather within her, its familiar power coursing through her veins. Woah, girl. Let it build. Buy time. "I told you to leave her alone, Vexen!" she yelled. "Now we're captured!"
Tyson drew his Keyblades and pressed one into her neck. "Not a word. Not one."
She smiled arrogantly. "Aren't you cocky?" The metal pressed harder. "Kill me. I dare you. I have information you will never know if you do."
"Talk."
"This pitiful Organization member," she said, pointing to Vexen, "was trying to trick Kairi into thinking that he wanted to help her. Luckily, I caught him just in time."
"That's not true!" Vexen's voice rang out, carrying an rare display of emotion. "You swine tried to kill me before. Now I'm going to get revenge! That means destroying everything you've worked for." He pointed at Riku.
"How dare you!" Tidus yelled. "Riku doesn't work for the Organization! Ansem isn't inside him anymore. Just leave him alone!"
The silver-haired boy looked into Kxerrix's eyes. "Now, Kxerrix?"
The dark princess smiled. "Yes. Now."
In a flash, Riku's blade was at Kairi's throat.
XxX
Kairi was speechless. "Riku, what are you..."
"Shut up."
Wakka walked over to Riku. "What are you doin', man? Are you insane?"
"No, he's not. You were." Kxerrix smiled maliciously. "This isn't Riku. This is the Riku Replica. The Riku you've known for the last six months is a fake- a fake made by Vexen."
"T-there's no such thing. You're lying." Tidus stuttered.
Kxerrix scowled. "Are you delusional? Did any of you ever stop to wonder how the gummi piece got in Kairi's bag? Or maybe how Riku escaped from the door? Or perhaps, how your pathetic little ship even made it to Traverse Town? Every step of your journey has been carefully calculated and controlled by us. And there is nothing that you can do about it."
Vexen stood. "I didn't intend for him to be used like this!" He took on a commanding tone. "Experiment 39. Stop." Nothing. "Stop." Riku just smiled.
"I'm not your puppet anymore, Vexen. You're not the only scientist in the Organization- I'm human, as much as you are. You don't control me."
"Yes." Kxerrix said smugly. "We control you. Get in a line. Hands out. No weapons."
Donald growled. "You must think we're insane."
She smiled, her eyes suddenly glowing gold. Tiny fangs became visible. "No. I don't think you are. But THEY do." Invisibles materialized in the air around them. "Unless you do what I command," she said softly, "My Heartless will rip out your hearts by the seams. One by one, you will all watch your friends perish."
"No."
Kxerrix whipped around, her golden glowing eyes burning. "Than you watch your friends die, Kairi! Watch them die!"
"NO!" she screamed, her voice cracking. A brilliant light flashed, blinding everyone for a fraction of a second. Kairi summoned her Keyblade, eyes glowing in a terrifying, pure white. She struck down, and caught Kxerrix on the side. The dark princess cried out in pain as the metal cut through her cloak and into her skin.
"This isn't over," she whispered. "You will die. And you will take Sora down with you." With that, Riku, Kxerrix, and every single Heartless that she had summoned vanished into thin air.
XxX
"Hurry, Yuffie!"
"I'm going as fast as I can!" Crashing through bamboo, Leon and Yuffie streaked toward the light flash. Bursting through the clearing, they saw Kairi sink to her knees, tears streaking her face. An Organization member and a blonde girl were also in the group, the blonde one crying softly and hugging Kairi. Yuffie scrambled over. "What happened? What's going on? Where's Riku?"
They just cried harder.
XxX
How many of you expected that?
I'll move on to reivews- not much to say here. I was SO happy when I found ten reviews in my inbox! You all make me extremely happy.
FatalFeline- Well, the Riku thing is sorta explained now. xD And poor Kairi...if only they knew. Even if the teachers did know, I doubt they'd believe her.I reviewed one of your fics- that's cool that you like tragety (sp? I'm doing this in the Document Editor, so...yeah.) None of my friends can believe that I write fluff. Hahahahaha. -gives you a cookie-
Absh- Well, now you know who not to trust! And I'm glad you like my stories- and are you saying you're interested in staffing my C2? Or just subscribing?
Hybred- Thanks for the compliment- this site is helping me to improve my writing. Got any tips for meh?
Horsie890- Thanks so much for showing FatalFeline my story! You make meh very happy. And I try to give my characters...eh...character because well who likes mindless, drooling zombie characters? Lol. Even if I don't get it quite right, I've found it to be worth it in the long run. My personal characters- like your Evil Toast Monsters from Beyond the Coffeepot- are my Ebil Stripy Penguins of d00m. Also the Ebil Stripy Wafflez of d00m. Lots of d00m-tastic-ness! I havn't played Zelda much...maybe I should. Right now I'm planning to get DDR Extreme for my PS2...WOOT BABY! xDDD
Razer- In our dictionary, wowza isa word. Hahahaha. So is splenderifficness.
Perheledial- I could never forget about this story! I love Vexen, cause he has so dang many possiblites. There's nothing more dangerous than a fighter who wants revenge...except maybe a mob of Riku fangirls. But moving on...thank you for the compliment. I'm trying to get better as I go along; every time I look at other fanfictions I am reminded at how far I have to go! And Leon is capable of taking a hit fromalittle fluffy bunny. Maybe. Lol.
Kristy-all-digimon-rules- Thanks, and I hope you'll keep reading.
That's about it for now- can't wait for all of your reivews- especially Razer, who I have a sneaky suspicion will be freaking out. No offense meant to you, Razer. Lol. -walks away mumbling about penguins-
Akiko