Thank you for the quick feedback, guys. This is why I'm putting the chapter on faster than expected. My editor didn't read this one either, so ignore horrible type-o's. I'd really appreciate it if you guys would watch your language on your reviews; I really don't care if you say something harsh about my story- but watch the language. That's my only stipulation.

I don't own Kingdom Hearts!

Part 8

The Vanishing Friend

Kairi sat up and wiped her dirty wet face. Riku's hand was out to her invitingly with a warm smile. She took his hand and stood up. He looked different. She wasn't surprised, considering everyone looked different in Wonderland. He wore a striped shirt that fit him snug under his rigid jean jacket. He wore matching gloves, and black pants. He had purple cat ears poking out from his silver hair.

"Riku," she murmured, then jumped on him in a hug and sobbed.

"Riku?" he asked confused, but with an entertained sound to it. She cried into his shoulder.

"Well, maybe you're not Riku," she said in a calmed sob. "But you look enough like him." The cat Riku slowly pushed her off. She wiped her eyes, and looked into his eyes. It certainly wasn't Riku. They were laid back and joke filled.

"What's your name in Wonderland?" she asked him.

"I'm the Cheshire Cat," he proclaimed, pointing stiffly to his chest. He flipped and jumped up to reach a branch. Without effort, he pulled himself up and sat on the branch, kicking his feet. Kairi would have laughed that a guy that looked like Riku was acting so immature- if she weren't so lost.

"Do you know the way out of the woods?" She asked, walking under him. Riku smiled and nodded furiously. Kairi smiled, trying to look cute. It was a habit for the real Riku.

"Yes, I do!" The cat Riku announced proudly, and disappeared in a swirl. Kairi gasped and ran to the branch. She waited for him to come back.

"I also saw the White Rabbit!" His voice came from behind her. She jumped, and spun around, facing nose to nose with him. She pulled back and blushed.

"W-Where?" She asked, embarrassed. She scratched the side of her nose.

"He came through here," he said, grabbing her shoulders and guiding her down the path. She almost started leaning into him, but stopped, remembering it wasn't Riku.

"He went down this path?" She asked dumbly.

"Right down here," He said into her ear. "Unlike you, he didn't stop to see the Mad Hatter's."

"The Mad Hatter?" Kairi asked, still being guided by Riku. "I didn't meet a Mad Hatter."

"Oh, I know," He chuckled. "But you're going to." Kairi escaped from his grip and spun around to meet his gaze.

"No, I'm not," she told him with authority. "I need to find Sora- I mean The White Rabbit."

"He won't go anywhere," he said reassuringly.

"But he's probably miles away," Kairi protested.

"Yes, and the Mad Hatter's just up this road," he said with a warm but mischievous smile. "You'll love to meet him."

"Why do they call him the Mad Hatter?" she asked. "I don't want to meet anyone mad."

Riku chuckled with a shrug. "We're all mad here."

She walked past him, starting to have enough from the cat. He walked right on her heels.

"Quit following me," she commanded.

"No," he chuckled. "I have to make sure you get to the Mad Hatter's,"

Kairi wished the boy didn't look so much like Riku. She spun around and smacked him in the face. She didn't get to hear the smack of his skin, because he disappeared before she even reached his face. He appeared in front of her, making her jump.

"Let's not be violent," he scolded jokingly, flicking her nose with a smile. She rubbed her sore nose as he escorted her with his hand holding hers. She resisted for a couple pulls, but after several feet she gave into his iron grip.

She was pulled down the road for a couple minutes, listening to the hum of the song on the Riku-cat's mind. Her heels started getting tired as she was greeted with the smells of pastries. She loved her small whiff and wanted more. She moaned in bliss. Riku gave her a smile when he heard her.

"Those are the smells of an endless party at the Mad Hatter's," he said. She made her face expressionless.

"I don't want to go," she lied. "I want to find Sora."

"Then you can bring him some leftovers from the party,"

"Why do you want me to see him so badly?" she asked, with a desperate edge to her voice. He shrugged.

"Are you doing it just for the fun of being mischievous," she asked. He laughed.

"You could say that!" He said. Kairi saw a far off gate. It was to the side of the path. It was the opening to a hedge. It was white, and from a far, she could hear music coming from that direction. The smells got even more taunting. She ended up on the side of Riku, being called by the fun music and the inviting smells.

"Is there anything you want to warn me about?" Kairi asked her heart racing. Was this hatter really mad?

"No," Riku said. "Just have fun!" They arrived at the gate and he pushed her in. She spun around angrily to face him, but he had disappeared. She sighed and marched in.

A boy and a young man were swaying their teacups in the air happily. Music hooted from their steamed teapots. Chairs sat on the sides of the table, but nobody filled them. The smells had been lifting off of the table from pies, breads, cupcakes, cookies, brownies, muffins, and basically every baked sweet she could think of.

They didn't notice her walk in. The older one dunked an oversize spoonful of sugar into his buddy's cup. His friend then took a swig and they laughed with their arms around each other's shoulders. Their tea splashed in the air and rained on their heads.

The younger one had long bunny ears that dropped to his shoulders. His hair was messy and blonde, matching his coat he wore over his tacky shirt underneath.

The older one had a large, festive hat. Red hair poked from underneath, giving him a rebel look. His suit was purple, matching his varying colors on his head. A red shirt poked out of his coat. He laughed haughtily. His young friend gave into his own laughter, and laid onto the table, butter dripping onto the tips of his hair.

The older one gasped for air. He stopped laughing when he saw Kairi. She caved into herself and stepped for the gate. A huge smile slowly widened on his face. The younger one looked up to see why his friend had stopped laughing. He spotted Kairi, and straightened up. Kairi could see him blushing.

"Welcome!" The man called. "I'm the Mad Hatter!"

This is going to be great! Everyone now knows why I didn't use certain characters now, right? Well if you couldn't tell who anyone was by the description, then I won't give it away. By the way, Kairi does like Sora, but I thought I'd make it more interesting if Kairi flirted with someone that looked like Riku.

Please review.