Twelve hours of sleep equals a very happy writer!

Wow! Thank you so much for all of your reviews! It made me so happy, coming online to see all these reviews! Heehee, thank you so much! I hope you like this chapter, I wroked hard on it! One more part and then... well, yeah, you'll see.

This chapter's dedicated to Fire (EleqantArrow 64) in hopes she'll stop being mad at me for killing off a three-year old. I didn't mean to, Fire! Except for the fact that, ya know, I kinda did.

READ ON!

Penny for Your Thoughts

Part 2

Tails

Damn, damn, damn!

Footstep, footstep, run, run, run...

"DAMN IT!"

A stumble and he was sent flying over the fallen article of trash and into the hard dirt road. He felt something warm trickle down his knee and his head spun, vision slurring into a pastel of dark cream colors.

Blood. So much blood. Oh God, was he okay? What had he been thinking, letting those people take Riku? Sora should have kept with his best friend; what if he was dying? Dying in some lonely dungeon, calling out his name, looking for a last ray of hope that had been cut off when Sora had made that damn left?

Sora lay there for a few moments, allowing himself a few moments to regain a bit of his energy. No one had been able to keep up with him, so he was safe for the moment.

But Riku wasn't, and therefore Sora wasn't. He had to think of a plan, and he had to think of one now!

Frowning, Sora grunted as he planted his palms firmly to the ground and pushed himself up to his knees. Dirt clung to his face like dust to velvet, tears making muddy streaks as they slid down the contours of his cheek bones and dribbling down his chin.

He had to get into that Castle. Gah, he was going to attempt to break into the one place he had been avoiding like the plague for all of these years! Not to mention the hundreds of guards who swarmed around the places like bees to sugar in the hot summer heat.

He had to think of a way in, but he couldn't remember Riku ever mentioning a way to get into the Castle. Whenever Sora brought the topic up, about the Castle, Riku would glare at him and not answer, promptly ignoring Sora for the rest of the day, and sometimes the day after.

He struggled to stand on his feet, and he had to lean against the wall to hold himself up; his knees were shaking badly. Taking another precious moment to regain his composure, Sora swept a dirty hand through his matted brown hair, frowning.

When in doubt, use what you have. That's what Riku had always told him, so Sora guessed this was one of the times to put that theory to good use.

But what did he have? The guards were probably still staking out his and Riku's hiding spot, waiting for the brunette to return. No, that was no use.

What else did he have? He had a dollar bill folded and tucked safely away into the pocket of his pants, but he couldn't exactly walk into the castle and say, "Hey, here's a dollar! You mind letting my friend go now so we can make our getaway?"

Even Sora wasn't that naive.

And then it hit him like a ton of bricks. Sora blinked at the sudden splash of inspiration. Of course, it was perfect! But there was a fatal flaw...

...it went against absolutely every thought, every idea, every fact he has ever learned about Disney Castle. It went against all of his beliefs, all of his morals. It sounded crazy when he thought of it, and it still sounded crazy.

It was insane. It could never work. This was not how Sora was taught, not what Riku had told him about the people in Disney.

And yet, he was running like a maniac towards the market, as fast as his tired legs could carry him.

It was insane.

He stopped at the alley way.

But so was this whole mess.

He ducked into the dim corridor.

And then he shattered his whole way of life.

Heads

Ouch.

That was the very first thought that ran through his head. Ouch. He would have said it out loud if his lips hadn't been too numb to move.

Too bad the rest of him didn't feel that way.

His chest was on fire, white hot pain licking his pale skin. Riku's back was being torn asunder over and over and over again until it was a bloody mash of shredded skin. Legs were being prodded with blunt needles over and over again, thick waves of pain being washed over him with each passing second.

And Riku could have sworn gravity had increased by at least ten times.

Just to make sure he was still living, Riku tried to say something. Anything.

"Muurgh..."

Okay, that wasn't a word. But it was close enough.

Summoning up all of the strength he could muster, Riku slowly creaked one eye open. A moment later, he quickly shut it again with a small groan. There was the most blinding light glaring at his face, and a huge black bug staring down at him.

He heard voices that sent dull throbs through his ears, and it sounded as if coming from hundreds of miles away,

"Yuffie, get that thing out of his face!"

"Aww, but I wanna wake him up!"

The second voice had a higher pitch and it made him wince in discomfort. He shifted slightly, but stopped immediately at the intense pain it brought him.

"Look, he's awake!" That damn voice again!

"...I'll go get Aerith." This one was deeper, calmer. Riku heard waves crashing, but he couldn't, for the life of him, figure out where that noise was coming from. Then again, he also heart a thousand tiny sirens going off and cracking of thunder, so he knew it was just his brain playing some random sounds affects.

Then, something smooth slipped along his chin, a gentle finger teasing his lower lip open. Something cold and glassy was pressed at the tip of his mouth and slowly, a cool and minty liquid flowed into his mouth.

His eyes squinted shut at the strong flavor, but he didn't have enough strength to move away. He sputtered a bit, but gave most of the drink passage to his stomach. He felt a drop of the cool liquid slide down his dirty cheek, leaving a trail of ice in it's wake.

As the bottle was withdrawn from his lips, Riku could feel the of the drug taking affect. It spread like wild fire, although in a semi-comforting way. It began at his throat, easing the pain away into a gentle numbness. Then the rest of his body followed suit. The pain faded away into a dull throb, then a gentle pulse, until it ceased to feel at all.

The fire in his chest was extinguished, gravity slowly returned to normal, and the brightness of the room lowered into a gentle cream. The blurred figures he had mistaken for large insects sharpened into actual people. Well, mostly people. One appeared to be very short, with two large disks sprouting from his head...

...and a tail...

...oh fuck no!

It all came rushing back to him in a tidal wave of thoughts. His eyes widened to twice their size and coldness grasped at his lungs. With a frightened gasp, Riku sat bolt upright.

The coldness was replaced by warmth, and he couldn't figure out why. He felt a tickling sensation on his back, though.

"Aerith, it's bleeding again!"

A firm hand---no, two of them---were placed on his chest and someone tried no force him back down. But Riku kicked his legs out, the flimsy sheet that had been covering him flying off the bed to reveal blood-soaked trousers, and a dark burgundy shirt that had once been white.

He twisted his torso, and the warmth kept on flowing, the tingle in his back beginning to get unpleasant as it started to break through the numbness.

"Please, calm down!" a feminine voice said, fear laced within her tone. But Riku was too busy thrashing against a brunette's strong hold to care or notice.

"NO!" Riku cried, his head twisting this way and that. His hands flew up and he tried to push the growling man away, what little strength he has left going into the assault. "Let GO!"

"Damn it, Aerith!" Riku's captor growled, still trying to contain the distressed teen. "Get the needle!"

Riku could hear the shifting of glass objects, his scared breathing heavy even to his own ears, and the creaks of the bed as he continued to fight for all he was worth.

And then something cold pressed into his thin right arm, cool sparks trickling through his veins. A new kind of numbness spread through him, this one slower and much more affective. Instead of taking away only his pain, it took away his energy, as well.

The hands that had been tugging at Leon's slowly lost it's strength until he was barely holding on. The will to stay sitting up was slowly being withdrawn and he felt himself being pushed back down onto the bed, no more energy left to help Riku lift himself up once more.

His breathing still came out in short gasps, and he kept his eyes tightly clenched. Maybe if he didn't see them, they'd go away. God that was stupid. Riku blamed the drugs.

Someone was talking to him slowly, as if he were a frightened child. That calm, soothing voice, minus the fear this time. Riku clenched his teeth tightly; he wasn't a child.

"There's no need to be afr---"

"I'm not a four-year-old, you know, so cut the baby talk." His voice was slightly hoarse, but still quite clear. He fought to remain consciousness even though his whole mind cried for him to sleep; if he had to deal with these people, he'd do it now and get it over with.

With a heavy, resigned sigh, he opened his eyes for the third time. The room, he saw, was painted a light cream with tiny flower decals embedded on the bottom lining. Two large windows faced his bed, thick white drapes slung half-way over them. Riku realized he couldn't have been asleep for long; the sun was just dipping behind the line of buildings, meaning it was some time around high noon.

Or he could have just cut that crap and looked at the clock by the door (which was hut and, most likely, bolted) which read 6:50.

His eyes scanned over the faces of the four people, and one mouse, in the room, gaze never lingering on one person for more then one second. He recognized the blonde and Yuffie immediately, along with Leon, who still had his palms pressed against Riku's chest, just in case. There was a tall woman nearby, her green eyes shining with worry. She wore her thick brown in a braid that ran down her back, soft bangs curling down the sides of her face. She had on an ankle-length pink dress on with a white jacket firmly fastened around her torso.

And then... there was the rat. Riku couldn't figure out what the hell gave these people the idea that he wanted to see the King! Especially now! A thief who was immobile in a bed and gravely injured.

These people made no sense.

King Mickey was dressed casually, or what he probably considered normal. He had on dark blue pants with red streaks going down the sides and a belt looping around the rim. A yellow t-shirt was covered with a jacket that matched the pants. (More detail would be given if the author weren't so awkward with describing a kick-ass outfit for a MOUSE)

"Are you calm now?" Leon hissed, steely gray eyes glaring into Riku's green ones.

The teen just glared right back. "What do you think?" he hissed through gritted teeth.

Riku waited impatiently until Leon finally removed his hands and took a step back, casually leaning against the wall and crossing his arms over his chest. His intense gaze did not lessen, and it made Riku twitch in discomfort.

"All right, then," the brunette said in what she obviously though of as a calm voice, gently folding her hands in front of her. "Now that we're all comfortable---" at which Riku shot her a pointed glare, the woman smiling in return, "---perhaps you wouldn't mind answering a few questions for us?"

Riku's lips softened from it's frown and into a thin line, eyes becoming black. He said nothing.

"We can ask yes or no questions, if you'd like."

Still he said nothing.

"Your name?"

Nothing.

"Where you live?"

Silence.

A loud grumble snapped them from a staring contest.

"Cloud...?" the brunette woman whispered, hand held up in an alerted way.

"...Cloud?" Riku snorted, the corners of his eyes wrinkling.

'Cloud' glared at the silver-haired boy, blue eyes twitching a bit as his hands twitched at his sides. "Think my name is funny?"

"Your name is Cloud..." Riku chuckled, now doing his best not to break out in laughter.

Cloud gritted his teeth. "Yes," he hissed. "Now if you would be so kind as to tell us yours..."

Riku smiled. "No."

"Riku."

Said boy blinked, and he forced his lead muscles into turning his neck so he could properly view the man who had said is name so casually.

Leon stared back at him, a small smirk on his face. "His name's Riku," Leon said slowly. "I heard his friend call him it."

Riku twitched a bit, but he kept his face stoic. Damnit, Sora...

Aerith was still smiling. "Well, Riku," she said happily, "would you mind telling us your friend's name?"

"Yeah, I would," Riku ground out, glaring at the woman with heated aqua-marine eyes.

"Sora," Leon replied quietly.

"You pay too much attention for your own good, you know that?" Riku said evenly, keeping his voice casual, even though his inside was burning with anger.

Leon just smirked at him.

Cloud smiled a bit. "Well, now that we're introduced, you wouldn't mind a few more questions, then..?"

"Actually, I would."

"Too damn bad," Yuffie said cheerfully. She was sitting on a table across from Riku's bed, weight resting on her arms, palms flat on the wooden surface behind her. Her booted heels scuffed at the ground as she swung her feet back and forth, grinning. "In case you haven't noticed," she went on, "we have you paralyzed on a bed with no way out. You may as well cooperate."

Riku raised a fine silver eyebrow. "And how'd you figure that out?" he asked.

"Haven't you ever heard of Stockholm Syndrome?" the ninja asked, winking in a suggestive manner.

"Haven't you ever heard of a muzzle?"

"Ouch, that hurts."

"Enough!"

It was the first time Riku had heard the king speak, and he found himself doing just that; shutting up.

Mickey was frowning now, dark eyes fixed on Riku's. "Look, pal, all we need is a few answers. In case you haven't noticed, you aren't in the best of conditions..."

Riku smirked. "What did I do?"

"Hmmm, let's think about that for a moment," Cloud muttered bitterly, voice dripping with sarcasm as he uncrossed his arms from his chest and placed them on his hips. "Well, first of all you could explain why you've been stealing from here for the past seven years..."

"Do you have any proof I've been stealing?" Riku questioned.

"As a matter of fact, we do," Cloud said with a smirk. "We have at least seven witnesses who've caught you in the act..."

"Well that's unusual," Riku murmured.

"...and around twenty for 'Sora'."

"That's normal," Riku said with a tiny smile.

"So either way, you're cornered," Cloud finished. He re-crossed his arms over his chest, looking a bit proud of this.

"I'm sure your thrilled," Riku said dryly. "Your mother must be so proud. Almost as proud as she is of her own naming skills. Cloud, honestly..."

"Shut the hell up, brat."

King Mickey sighed heavily. "C'mon, let's all just calm down for a sec. Cloud, chill!"

Cloud's fists had curled into balled fists at his sides, eyes narrowed in annoyance as he glared daggers at the smirking, bed-ridden teen. His strong self-control kept him from snapping back.

Riku felt a dull throb in the back of his mind, and he knew that the after-affects of the drug would kick back in full force any minute now. He just had to hold out for a bit longer...

"Let's cut to the chase, 'kay?" King Mickey suggested. Looking at Riku again, he asked, "Riku, will you tell us where Sora is?"

"No." The response was immediate, and even though the word was small, it was still a bit slurred. He felt suddenly drowsy, and his eyelids weighed a ton. The bed was so warm, so soft... it would be so nice to just let his eyelids shut after such a long day and finally get some rest.

Aerith sighed. "Do you even know where he is?" she asked gently.

"No idea..." Riku whispered. His eyelids were beginning to droop, his muscles loosening a bit. His mind was going fuzzy, and for that moment, the moment before the peaceful bliss of slumber over took him, he felt all right. He felt.. safe. Just wonderfully safe, a feeling he had longed for, for years and years.

"Aerith...?

So that's what her name was.

"Don't worry, it's just the drugs side-affect. He won't be up for quite a while."

They thought he was asleep now, but he still had a bit of life in him. Riku fully shut his eyes now. He felt a warm weight surround him and rest just below his chin; someone had lifted the fallen blanket and put it back over him. A cool, damp rag was pressed over his forehead, and it was then that Riku realized how incredibly hot he had felt. He must have caught a fever...

Sleep...

It sounded like the best idea in the world.

And without another thought, Riku let his thoughts drain away from him, feeling them drift from his mind as he fell into a state of unconsciousness.

Tails

Yuffie sighed as she watched Riku finally pass out, chest rising and falling in a soft, gentle rhythm. She passed Aerith a damp rag that had been placed on the bed side table then leaned back, waiting impatiently as Aerith placed it gently on the teen's head.

"So now what?" the ninja asked, cocking her head to the side. "WE didn't get anything out of him..."

"Nothing else to do," Leon muttered in an emotionless voice, still leaning back against the wall, his eyes staring at Riku's sleeping form.

Aerith sighed, gently playing with a strand of her hair before beginning to organize the numerous things on the metal tray by the hospital bed. "We'll have to wait until he wakes up," she told Yuffie.

"And we still have to find that other fella," King Mickey pointed out.

"With all due respect, your majesty," Aerith said sternly, "I'd rather you not send your guards after that boy until I can go with them."

King Mickey blinked. "Wha? Why, what's wrong?"

Aerith gestured towards Riku. "I'm afraid that if you let those guards go out unsupervised, they'll bring back that poor boy in the same condition as him." Aerith shook her head. "No, I'd rather go with to see if we can talk to him..."

"You mean black mail him," Yuffie said, rolling her eyes. "C'mon, Aerith, we know what you'll say. Some crap about us having his friend so he needs to come in too..."

"Not that it won't work," Cloud pointed out. "What other choice have we got?"

King Mickey sighed, scratching his head with a gloved hand. "I guess you're right, Aerith," he said. "But---" Mickey cast a glance at Riku, "---do you really think the guards did all of this? I mean, they can be violent, but not like this..."

Aerith sighed heavily. She reached a slender hand sown to tuck a stray tuft of silver hair behind Riku's ear. His eyebrows were knit together, a frown on his face. Like he was having a bad dream. But she had never seen anyone look so... hopeless.

"No..." Aerith whispered. "I don't think it was them who did this." She fingered a perfectly carved spiral slice on Riku's arm, one that was a bit scabbed over, a few spots producing a pinprick of fresh blood every now and then. "I think someone else did these things to him... Your guards just re-opened them."

"What're the chances of him telling us who did it?" Cloud asked gruffly, nodding towards the sleeping teen.

Aerith sighed. "Unfortunately, very slim chances. He wouldn't even tell us his name..."

"We'll get back to that later," King Mickey said sadly. "Right now, we have to figure out what to do with him, and Sora. No matter how badly hurt he is, rules are rules. If we don't think up some sort of sentence, the town'll be in an uproar..."

"You know the law," Leon muttered. "They need to be put in jail, no matter how young they are. The lowest sentence we can give them is four years, so..."

"We can't do that!" Aerith gasped, eyes widening. "It'll kill them! Cloud, you know!" She looked hastily around, locking eyes with the blonde who shifted uncomfortably. "Tell them!"

Cloud sighed heavily, unknowingly raising a hand to grab at his other elbow and stay there. "It would kill him..." he muttered. "When I picked him up, I didn't exactly expect him to be heavy but... it was abnormal, really. He must weigh half as much as Yuffie here."

"Are you calling me fat?" Yuffie huffed, crossing her arms and glaring at Cloud.

"No," Cloud said with deceptive calmness. "I'm saying that he's as light as a feather. If we throw him in jail with those scant rations, his stomach will eat itself until there's nothing left..."

"Then give him more food," Yuffie shrugged.

"It isn't that simple..." Aerith said, shaking her head. "You see..."

But they never saw anything because at that moment, another someone decided to make an appearance.

"Sorry to break up this happy little party," someone said gruffly from the doorway, "but there's someone here to see you--- holy shit, what the fuck happened to him?"

"Cid, please! Watch your language!" Aerith sighed, rubbing at her temples and shaking her head once.

"I can talk whatever way I fucking like," Cid snapped, scratching at his protruding stomach. He had a dingy cigarette hanging loosely from his lips, smoke billowing up from his parted, chapped lips. He had a tight black cloth tied firmly around his forehead to keep sweat from falling into his eyes, dirty blonde hair sticking up slightly. He had on baggy, light blue jeans on that slung over dirty work boots, black and brown stains blotching it everywhere. His white t-shirt was equally dirty, oil stains splattered over his chest and dirt clouding the back of the shirt.

"Somethin' the matter, Cid?" King Mickey asked, ignoring Cid's crude language; you grew used to it eventually.

Cid drew out his cigarette between his middle and index finger, twiddling with it idly as he said, "Yeah, we've got a visitor."

Riku stirred slightly in his sleep.

Repositioning the wet rag that had been slipping off of Riku's forehead, Aerith asked, "Who?"

Cid shrugged. "Dunno," he said. "He's won't tell us who he is, and he said he's looking for someone from this place?"

"What does he look like?" Aerith asked excitedly, praying that it was Sora; he must have come for his friend!

Another shrug. "How'm I supposed to know? He won't take his fucking hood off." He placed the cigarette back in his mouth and drew in another lungful of the drugged air. "Looks like an old guy, though. Hi back's all hunched over and he sounds like he's eighty years old."

Ignoring Cid's mutterings about 'fucking old people,' Aerith frowned softly. So it wasn't Sora... but who would be here at this time of night? It was almost 8 'o' clock...

"Well, who's he lookin' for?" King Mickey asked, tapping his foot on the floor. He always got testy when he was tired...

"Didn't say," Cid answered, tucking his hands into the pockets of his jeans. "He just wants ta' see someone in charge here, I guess..."

"I'll go!" Yuffie chirped cheerfully, launching herself off of the table and bouncing over to Cid. "It's boring here, anyway... where is he?"

"By the entrance," said Cid.

"Be careful, Yuffie," Aerith called after her, but Yuffie had already bounded out the door.

"Heehee, see ya!" And then she was gone.

Heads

The light that has previously been filtering through the stained glass had diminished, replaced by a darkness that had enveloped the town. The moon was hidden behind a thick, low hanging cloud. The smell of ozone was in the air, it's fresh scent meaning the approach of a thunderstorm.

The beautiful, tainted glass windows sent black ghouls scattering across the floor in an eerie waltz, shadows of the sun becoming the demons of the darkness. It was an eerie thing to witness, seeing how a beautiful a place could be in the day.

And how terrifying it was in the dark of night.

Yuffie took it in her stride, however, keeping her own personal light burning within her to keep her safe. The rainy scent blew in through the nooks and crannies of the castle, giving the halls a fresh, damp scent. Everyone was preparing for bed, the last of the indoor lamps being distinguished before the castle's matrons returned to their beds, getting well-rested for a lazy day tomorrow.

Cid had said that the stranger was in the Entrance Hall, but she didn't see him anywhere...

"Miss Yuffie!"

Yuffie blinked. "Hm?" She turned around to see two large guards making their way over to her, and sandwiched between them was a hunched over figure, a heavy, brown cloak drooped over him and a hood covering his face.

"You wanted to talk to someone?" Yuffie asked cheerfully, leaning down and resting her hands on her knees and offering a kind smile.

The old man shifted slightly, shoulder bumping into the elbow of one of the guards. Poor guy... he must feel a bit awkward with those two...

"You guys can leave now,." Yuffie said tot he guys, standing straight up again. "We'll be fine."

They glanced at each other before giving a curt nod each. And then, they swung around on the spot and stalked off.

"Sorry about them," Yuffie said cheerfully, folding her arms and standing to her full height, nodding towards the guards. "They can be pretty uptight sometimes.

The old man said nothing, just kept staring at the floor.

Yuffie's smile faltered a bit, her eyes twitching a bit. What's wrong with this guy? "So, what is it that you want, gramps?" she asked.

And then, finally, he spoke. "I was wondering... if you had an extra room for a weary traveler to stay for the night..." His voice was quiet and raspy, as if there was something caught in his throat.

The voice made Yuffie uncomfortable and shifted her weight from one foot to the other.

"Sure we do," She said, frowning a bit. "But... won't you tell me who you are...?"

"That is not important," the old man rasped. "I'm just tired... I'll have left by dawn..."

Yuffie, puzzled by the mans enigmatic nature, just shrugged. "Whatever, mister." Then an evil smirk spread over her lips. "You can stay in a room," she assured him. "But for a minor fee... just a deposit, really." What? She was running short on money...

The old man hesitated. Then, slowly, he dipped a hand that was hidden in his sleeve into his robe. A moment later, he pulled out a crumpled up dollar bill. Slowly, he held it up to her. "This is all I have..." he rasped.

Yuffie gladly took it, beaming. "No problem!" she said happily, pocketing the money. "C'mon, I'll show you to a guest room..."

She strode past the man briskly, head held high. She heard a shuffling feet and knew that the man was following her. Hm, maybe she could get him to take off his hood...?

"So, where're you from?" Yuffie asked, taking a chance at starting a conversation.

"The other side of town," was the only response she received.

"Where're you heading?"

"The other side of town."

"Ah."

They continued to walk in silence, Yuffie occasionally looking over her shoulder to see if the old man was keeping up. And every time she did, she would see him limping behind her as a speed quite fast for a man of his age.

His quiet demeanor puzzled the ninja, but she asked no more questions. Not like she was getting many responses from him, anyway. They were on the second floor, having walked up the spiral staircase a full minute ago. Yuffie was surprised the old man wasn't in shock about the size of the Castle; it looked much smaller from the outside.

They were finally passing the hallway that contained the room of Disney Castle's permanent residents, including Leon, Cloud, Donald, Goofy, the three nephews and Yuffie herself. Aerith's room was attached to the infirmary. She'd probably be staying up all night, though, keeping an eye on Riku.

Yuffie frowned at the thought. Riku had been pretty beaten up, and she had seen tons of injuries in her life. Most of those wounds looked carefully planned, not reckless and random. There seemed to be patterns carved into the ivory white skin, as if they had been planted purposefully.

Aerith was right. Someone else had cause those wounds, not the guards. And it was there job to figure out who.

Then she'd beat the shit out of THEM.

"Hiya Yuffie!"

Yuffie looked over her shoulder to see three small ducks trotting in a single-file line towards the. She saw the old man shift slightly.

"Hey guys," Yuffie sighed. She curled her hands along her hips and looked at them skeptically. "What're you three up to so late?"

"We heard that someone got beat up!" the one in red said.

Yuffie never had gotten their names right.

"We just wanted to go see if we could find him! Uncle Donald said he was the guy we met yesterday!"

The old man was now shifting constantly, swaying slightly on the spot and lowering his head, if possible, even lower down.

"Who's this guy?" the one in red asked, pointy a feather-finger (for lack of a better word) at the cloaked man, who nervously shuffled away from him.

Too bad the one in blue was standing right in front of him, and was peering up through the heard and into the strangers face.

"Hey!" he quacked. "I know who you are!" Turning, excited, to his two companions, he said, "It's Ethan!"

"No it isn't!" the other one reprimanded, leaning forward and putting his wings on his hips. "That's not his real name, remember?"

Yuffie's eyes were narrowed now. She slowly uncrossed her arms, scowling at the figure who definitely wasn't hunched over now, and when he began to step backwards, there wasn't a trace of a limp.

"You hold it right there," Yuffie hissed.

"What's going on?" the small duck in green asked, cocking his head to the side. "What did Sora do wrong?"

"HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!"

Too late. In a blur of brown, Yuffie soon found herself covered in a thick brown cloak. She had caught a brief glimpse of the kid before he had ripped off his cloak and thrown it over her as a distraction. His brown spiky hair was damp and sweaty, clinging to his face, blood smeared here and there on his clothes. And he ha a determined, bitter expression on his face.

Yuffie stumbled backwards, arms flying out to wrench off the thick cloak that was heavier then it looked. She managed to yank it halfway off of her face, and she spotted the brunette flying away in the opposite direction, running away from the distressed ninja.

"HEY!" Yuffie choked out, finally managing to full pull the cloak off of her face. "STOP RIGHT THERE!"

But by the time she had finally untwisted herself, Sora was long gone and completely out of sight. She couldn't even hear his footsteps anymore.

"DAMNIT!" Yuffie snapped, hands curling into fists. The three nephews were looking up at her, frightened by her behavior as they slowly stepped away.

"Sheesh, what's wrong with her?

"Who knows with girls?"

"Yuffie?"

Yuffie peeked through her fingers, which she had gripping over her face a moment before, at the last voice. Goofy was looking worriedly at her; he was dressed in a long robe that was decorated with smiling moons and twinkling stars, the material soft and light blue. He had matching slippers and nightcap adorning his feet and head.

"What's goin' on? Who was that kid?" Goofy asked tiredly, rubbing at his eyes in a sleepy manner.

"Goofy!" the blue-clad duck exclaimed, pointing excitedly in the direction Sora had run off in. "Goofy, we saw a convict! It was so cool!"

"Whaa?" He frowned. "What'cha talkin' about?"

"Nothing!" Yuffie exclaimed in a high pitched voice, eyes widening. There was no way she could let this get out! The Great Ninja Yuffie letting a thief into the castle without even knowing it? No way!

"That's right!" the one in red nodded.

Yuffie sighed in relief.

"He was a thief, not a convict, Huey!"

Or not.

"Ha ha ha!" Yuffie laughed, trying to make it as real-sounding as possible. "Kids these days, eh, Goofy! Such an imagination!" She reached down and patted their heads.

They whacked her hands away. "We weren't imagining things, Goofy!" Duey yelped. "It was Sora! The one we saw yesterday, remember?"

Goofy's frown deepened as Yuffie groaned, shoulders slumping in defeat, and said, "You saw Sora? Which way'd he go?"

"Goofy, please!" Yuffie begged, hands gripping at short black hair. "Please don't tell anyone about this!"

"What?" Goofy blinked, fairly surprised. "But we need to go---"

"You and I can go find him ourselves!" Yuffie pleaded, her hands now folded tightly in front of her and under her chin in a silent beg. "I don't want anyone to know about this!"

"But we hafta to tell Leon and them!"

"You and I can go find him!" Yuffie repeated. "Please! I'll get in so much trouble if they knew I'm the one who let him in the castle and then let him get away!"

Goofy still looked doubtful, so Yuffie pulled her final bribe.

"If you don't tell anyone, then we can both make sure he doesn't get hurt! You know the others will use weapons, and if it's just the two of us, I'm sure we can talk him into coming with us!" Her eyes widened tearfully. "Please, Goofy? Please?"

Goofy sighed, scratching the back of his head. "Well, all right then," Goofy muttered. "But we'd better hurry if we don't anyone to know..."

Yuffie did a little mental situation! Yes! She knew that dog's hatred of all things sharp and pointy would come in hand one day!

"Thank you so much!" Yuffie exclaimed, bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet. "You wont be sorry, I promise!"

And as Goofy went into his room to get into fight clothes, as Yuffie shooed the three ducks into bed, assuring them that nothing was wrong...

...two floors up...

...four corridors down...

...under watchful, bright green eyes that shone with worry in the dark...

...a young teenager shifted in his sleep, head tossing to the side as silver hair spilled over his pale face, lips in a tight thin line and eyes scrunched together as his body unconsciously reacted to the pain all over his body.

And he slept on.

End Chapter

That was lots of fun to write! 18 pages, guys! Don't expect long chapters like that all the time, though.

Anyway, I hope you liked it. Was the beginning and end to rushed? Tell me if it is! T.T Review? Please?

Chapter 7 out next week!

Oh, by the way, bad news. The computer is being taken away from me because I'm failing math... I don't know when the punishment will end. I will do everything within my power to sneak onto the computer and type. I promise there will be an update next weekend. I swear!