Chapter 5: The Welcoming Party

"I hope InuYasha will be ok. Sesshomaru is tough, I've seen the two have their bouts. Some times InuYasha walks away with a scratch or two. Other times I gotta use my fox magic to help him to hobble away from the recent display of 'brotherly love'," Shippou explained with a solemn face.

"He'll be fine, Shippou. He's a demon, right?" Riza said, trying to cheer up the small fox demon.

"Half-demon," Charlie chimed in.

"Half-demon!" Riza corrected herself. "Still he should be able to..." She stopped sensing the fighting spirit of someone. Not InuYasha, not Sesshomaru, not even Reicheru. "Who..?" Riza whispered. Her answer was a small cyclone of water washing away Shippou, Charlie, and Josh. The water didn't even touch Riza; it avoided her like she was the plague. "Josh! Charlie! Shippou!" Riza called out to her friends, but they were swept way with the sudden tide. "Come on out you scoundrel!" She called to the unknown source of the cyclone.

"So you can sense me? But I guess the sudden tidal wave would have lead to to believe someone else was around? You're better than I thought, Keyblade Mistress!" The calm cloaked man came from the shadows, and pulled back his hood. Revealed was a tan lean face of a man in his early-mid twenties his body tall and thin. Light brown hair and darker goatee. His hair short and wild, long bangs covering most of his face. Piercing blue eyes, blue as a clear ocean. "I'm here to take that jewel."

"So you're the one that female demon was talking about. Never!" Riza charged, drawing her Keyblade. She swung right to left, the water master dodged, having the movement of water. Her swings were wasted, as the cloaked man just dodged and evaded each swing. It's no use. I can't hit the guy! Riza went for a thrust but he sidestepped. He went in for the attack but was cut off and a black hand closed around his wrist.

"Eau, forget about the jewel, he doesn't want it anymore. Let's leave," he second cloaked figure, with the hood still up spoke with fiery tone. Almost sounded like he was ticked that he had to do this.

Eau put his hood up, "You're lucky, keybearer. We'll meet again, be sure," He and and the second unknown left through a dark portal. Riza withdrew her Keyblade and waited for her companions to return. Five minutes later, Charlie, Josh, and Shippou appear behind the tree, soaking wet. They set up camp after they were dry. After sunset is when InuYasha makes his appearance.

"InuYasha!" Shippou calls.

"Glad you're alive," Josh mentions.

"Are Sesshomaru and Reicheru...dead?" Riza asked, tentatively.

Inu shooed his head, "Not by a long shot. They'll be back. So where's the jewel?"

"Right here," Riza pulled it out of her pouch and showed it to the demon.

"At last, I'll become a full-blooded demon." He reaches for it, but it floated up out of their grasp, and went straight back to the demolished village. "Hey! Come back!" The five of them got up and give chase.

By the shrine, the jewel floated and resonated. Where the alter first stood, a light shone. "The keyhole." Riza took out her Keyblade, and the locking beam powered up, shoot into the hole in the ground, which locked this world off from the dreaded Heartless. From the spot, a piece for a space ship appeared. Riza bent down to look at it, "Hmm, I wonder what this is? Well, you're world is free from the Heartless," Riza smiled.

But she saw the sad look on the demi-demon's face. "The jewel. To reveal the keyhole, it disappeared. My chance along with it. Don't get me wrong, Riza, I'm grateful for sealing my world, but...I've been called half-breed all my life, by humans and demons alike. I could have been something with that jewel," he said.

"But you are something. You took on Heartless, demon hunters, and your brother in the span of two days; and lived! Plus that awesome sword. You don't need that jewel, you have all the power you need, right here!" She said, poking him in the chest where his heart is. "InuYasha, I bet with this new experience, you have the strength of fifty demons, full-blooded demons! Don't you forget that!" Riza winked. "With our mission here done, let's head to the next destination. We got more Heartless ass to kick!" Riza said good bye to InuYasha and Shippou.

"Wait! Riza!" InuYasha called. "Here," he turned to Charlie, "it's my Wind Scar, I think you'll need it. Riza, take this," he handed her a little light, "that's my Backlash Wave. The Wind Scar can slay hundred souls and the Backlash Wave sends the opponent's attack back at him with your own energy. And take Shippou with ya."

"What!? InuYasha, are you mad!?" Shippou exclaimed.

"No, he's got a point. You can become a summon for Riza. Go ahead, point your Keyblade at him," Josh said. Riza shrugged and did so. Shippou glowed a bluish green, bidding farewell to InuYasha, knowing he'll see him again, and was pulled into the Keyblade.

"It's about time we left. Good luck InuYasha," Riza, Josh, and Charlie all shook his hand, and went to look for their ship.

In their space ship, the three began to plan their next move.

"Well, where next? Do we head south?" Josh asked from the control pannels.

"Yeah. We'll take done the Heartless and lock that world up, then head back to Sunset Suburbia," Riza said, lying down the last of her hand, a Royal Flush. Charlie's face went pale and fell back, losing the rest of her chips. Riza, smugly smirked at Charlie's expense. "Sorry, chicky, but you lose...again!!" Riza pulled the pile to her side.

Charlie muttered some obscenities and turned away, a sour puss on her face.

"Your just mad you lost...What was it?" Riza counted mentally with her fingers, "Seven times! And you just taught me the game. Hahaha!" Riza laughed like a mad woman drunk on power.

"...Josh let's just get to the southern world, please!" Charlie got up to sit in a seat in the cockpit. Josh chuckled, Riza laughed as cleaning up the cards. Setting up another game, knowing Charlie wouldn't let this pass. Ten minutes later, Charlie's wail of defeat was heard.

An hour, four interspace dogfights, and near collision into space matter later, the trio made their way to the southern world. Landing was rough but the area was a barren wasteland. The remains of the trees were dry, scorched tree trunks, sand dunes littered the landscape. Wind whipping up the sand made it somewhat hard to breathe. Before the three left the safety of the ship, Josh and Charlie pulled their cloaks on.

"Josh, where are we?" Riza wheezed, coughing between every word.

"It said on the monitor Wastelander's Desert, a the city of Spargus is due east of us," Josh pulling up his hood, protecting himself from the sand. Charlie did the same, pulling her larger cloak over Riza. He took out the a compass, the magnetic dial pointing in the direction north, with that they would find the city within the deadly desert.

"Let's get out of here, Josh! We're getting pelted with the sand, and I don't like it!" Josh lead the way and Charlie followed.Riza, tucked safely under Charlie's arm and cloak, felt like she was being lead. She had no problem, she felt closer to Charlie from other night's discussion, during their stay at the inn while in the Inu Realm..

Charlie was still staring out the window, the stars were out. "Charlie?" Riza asked hesitantly. Charlie turned around, "You think...you think I'm capable of this? Saving the universe from the Heartless? Stopping these mad men that have a serious case of megalomania? I mean, I'm just one person from a small village that was in the middle of the densest forest! How could have been possibly been chosen? I just want my...my life back.." Riza began to cry, choking back a sob.

This is too much to give to a sixteen year old. But then again, when he began his journey, he was fourteen and alone. Until the other two showed up, but still. How can the universe ask teenagers to protect it? It's not right. However, we'll play with the hand we're dealt and make the best of it. Charlie came around and hugged Riza from behind, comforting the younger girl. "It's, gonna be ok, hun. You got us behind you, Josh, me, Dae, Nyte, and whoever else we meet on the way. You're not going to bear this weight alone, Riza," Charlie said in a soft whisper, coaxing the girl to the chair, rocking Riza in her arms gently to calm her down. She gave Riza a friendly kiss on the top of her head.

A silent hour later, Charlie thought the girl fell asleep. Riza stirred and pulled away slowly and cleaned her sunglasses of the dry tears and smugdes. She got up to blow her nose and turned to got to her room. She stopped as Charlie got up, "Charlie, thanks. I guess...I guess I just need to have that breakdown. I'll be fine now. Still, thanks," there was an awkward air hovering until Riza spoke up again, "Good night then." She left for her room.

"Yeah, good night," Charlie whispered to a door, leaving for her room as well...

She was brought back to the reality as the sun was setting an the trio were now miles away from thers ship. Night was setting and the winds were slowly dying down. The three set up their tents that were carried on their backs. The large bon fire Josh casted on the dry wood flickered and flared throughout the night and as the morning sun rose.

"Lord Damos, there's an unidentified cruiser in the desert, should we check it out?" a wastelander reported.

"Send Jak and his ottsel. A good warm-up before his match," Damos ordered. The wastelander was off to deliver the order.

"C'mon Dax!" Jak rushed by the small fruit stand, where Daxter, his little orange buddy was deciding on a fruit. Seeing Jak run by, he just took any one and continued after his best friend.

In the garage, as Jak prepared the Gila Stomper, Dax took notice to his fruit, aw man. I wanted a grapefruit," Jak just rolled his eyes, pulling down his goggles and pulling up his bandanna.

Daxter was manning the gun on top of the vehicle taking out all the marauders he could. There sensors picked up the ship's presence, and Jak made his way to the spot no problem. The two made their way to the ship, and checked it out. No one was around. Daxter hoped down from his post to see what was up. He scurried up Jak to his left should and asked where's everyone.

"Don't know. Following footsteps would be useless," Jak looked around the area. In the distance he saw smoke, grey smoke. "A bon fire? Out here? It must be the ones from this ship. Let's go Dax!" Jak ran to the Gila Stomper, and drove toward the smoke signal. A miles that took the trio to travel in a day took Jak a few minutes. He stopped the vehicle a few yards away from their camp, and walked as silently as he could toward the tents. The messenger's words ringing in his head...

Find the traveler's of the ship, and capture them. They are piloting the marauders' new weapon ship. They plan to use it against Spargus. Bring the pilots here to be tried. Word of Lord Damos.

Jak opened one of the tents, the first one being Josh's. Jak forced him out, and to his knees near the fire, Jak's Scatter Gun at the ready. He made his way toward Charlie's and Riza's tent. They were set next to Josh. Seeing how Jak's weapon was so close, they made no attempt at an attack. "Who are you?" Charlie growled and Jak took in the little site.

"I should be asking you the same thing. But Damos will interrogate you when we get back to Spargus. Now on your feet and be quiet!" Jak lead the small party to the large Gila Stomper. They drove off toward the city of the Wastelanders.

Damos watched from his tower, the city lit up by the morning sun. A dark and sinister grin cracked along his once stone cold face. His voice spoke with a burliness to it, "Soon, tha' lil Ukaizr will be in an early grave."

"Sire!" a soldier called. Damos got rid of his unusual voice and was back in his raspy voice. "Jak just returned with the prisoners. What shall we do with them?"

"Send them to the arena. There will be their sentencing," Damos turned back around after the soldier saluted and left. The dark smirk returned.

At this time, Jak met up with that soldier. Those two escorted Riza's party toward the areana. The trio looked out of the balconly, a stage surrounded by lava. Around them, a stadium packed to the brim with hungry specators, waiting for the sight of blood to fill their gut. "This is going to be interresting..." Riza uttered as Jak put her infront of Damos. Something's funny about him. His spirit feels familar but I can't place it...He seems dark and ditrubed. Riza thought to herself, staring into the emotionless eyes of the learder of the Wastelanders.

TBC