b Chapter Five: The Boy They Call Sora /b
They reached the beach within seconds of Kairi who was looking up and down for Sora, whom she fully believed to be here. Riku help Terra from the boat and they walked around the pier and met up with Kairi who seemed quite unnerved. "Where is he?" She muttered, Riku place a hand on the girl's head which made her look up. "If he's here he'll let us know." She sighed and turned and walked up the beach. Terra had stopped to look around. Across from where she stood a few feet down the beach was a small hut and above it was a bridge that led to a smaller island where a large crooked tree stood. She turned around and behind her or well above her was a spiral bridge around a large piece of land that led to half of a ship that seemed embedded in the island itself. It was an interesting place to be sure. Riku watched as she took in the island, slowly turning around to make sure she saw everything. "RIKU!" He turned to find a slightly shorter, spiky, brown headed boy running at him at full speed and Kairi running along behind him. Terra turn to look at the source of noise only to move just in time as Riku was tackled to the ground.
The boy's outfit was a jumble of black, blue, yellow, and red. Terra look at the two as they wrestled in the sand, Kairi stood beside her. "They're always like that when they see it other. It's always a contest who see who is stronger. Usually, Riku wins." And sure enough Riku turned over pulling an arm around Sora throat and proceeding to rub his knuckles into the boy's hair. He let go with a hearty laugh the other boy smiled rubbing his head. "Still can't beat you can I? When did you get back to the Islands?" He asked as the stood up dusting off the sand from their clothes. "I came back earlier today looking for you. This girl, needs you're help boy wonder." He replied pointing to Terra, the other boy turned look at her with bright blue eyes he smiled placing his hands on his hips. "I'm Sora, what do you need?" He asked, grinning so wide his teeth we visible, Terra felt an awkward smile creep onto her lips. Some people were too perky for her liking.
"My home…well that is Spira…well I'd like to get back." She said suddenly aware of three pairs of eyes staring at her. Sora stopped smiling looking at her again, "Was it destroyed?" He asked his perkiness vanishing for a moment his voice filled with sympathy. Terra nodded twisting her hand together looking down. "There were falling stars, and then these horrible black creatures rising up from the hull of the airship." She looked up the boy nodded looking up and rubbing his chin. "The King told me that outer worlds were still under the heartless threat…and then there is those three little pixie girls that keep following me around trying to find treasure. You know you kind look like one of them." He said looking back down at her, Terra blink utterly confused. "What are pixies?" He laughed; he turned his head to Riku. "Where did you find her?" He asked, "Traverse Town." "Traverse Town? Really? Wow I haven't been there in awhile." Sora said lost in thought for a moment. "Sora, are you staying here…and Riku…are you both going to stay?" Kairi asked looking at the boys, Sora turned to her with a grin. "Sure thing Kairi, for a couple of days, but as the keyblade wielder I'll have to help Terra get home." Kairi looked down and nodded, "Why don't we all go?" Riku added looking at Sora for a moment then to Kairi as she looked up. "I don't want you and Kairi getting hurt." Sora said firmly, Terra looked from boy to boy then to Kairi. "We'll be fine, besides you're not the only person who can use a keyblade, Sora." Riku replied his tone a little cold. "I've…well I've got a weapon too Sora…and I learned a little magic. Riku and I can help, please Sora. I don't want to watch you two leave me again." She said on verge of tears as she pulled both the boys into her arms. Both looked down at her for a moment before wrapping their arms around her. "We won't leave you again." Sora said softly "We promise." Riku added.
Terra felt out of place, she could feel her own tears welling. She turned away walking along the beach, i the three friends need time alone /i she nodded as she kept walking. The sun was slowly sinking down below the horizon; Riku raised his head watching her walk away as though she was walking directly walking into the sunset itself. "Excuse me." He muttered as he pulled away from the group. Sora let his other arm rest itself on Kairi's shoulder as they looked up to watch Riku run after Terra. "He seems to like her." Kairi commented wiping away a tear. "Yeah good for him." Sora replied, Terra stopped when she heard someone coming up behind her. Tears were rolling down her cheeks and she was doing her best not to vocalize them. Riku stopped his face flushed with concern. "What is the matter?" He asked, her eyes squinted up as she started to bawl. She covered her face with her hands to smother the sounds of her crying and trying to hide what had already been seen. "Its just…soooo…sooo…lonely…my…my…friends are somewhere on another…nother…world…and…and…here I am…a…a…alone!" She cried resting her head against his chest; she removed her hands from her face and wrapped her arms around him. He stiffened his face burning pink; he looked over his shoulder to Sora and Kairi who were looking at one with concern the other questioningly as if to say "What did you do to make her cry?"
"Don't worry, we'll get to home." He said patting her back, she pulled back but kept her arms around him her face red and sticky with her tears. "I'm sure your friends are safe, and you're not so alone." He smiled and she smiled back letting go and turning her back to him to wipe off her tears. "Thank you." She muttered sniffling a little. "That is what friends are for, right?" She coughed letting out a loud sob, turning to him smiling brighter. "Yeah." "So why don't get go get the best seats to watch the sunset." He said taking her hand leading toward the hut. "Don't we need to be outside?" She asked he chuckled, Sora and Kairi started toward the hut as well. "You'll see." He replied as he pushed open the door.
"Gabriel, where is Captain Galatea?" Asked a young girl with white-blonde hair and eyes that were pale purple and seemed to be staring at him but not really looking at him. She wore a pain white dress that rested just above her knees and white flat sandals; she was hugging small brown bear. Beside her was an older girl with long crimson-red hair pulled into a long thick braid down her back. She wore a blue top that tied around her neck and brown pants that were tied off at her knees and brown sandals. Over her top was a white vest with two blue wings on the back above her shoulder blades. Her eyes were emerald green and were staring at Gabriel intently. "Minthe, Galatea is being held hostage by Ishvara until we bring Terra home." Gabriel replied with growl in the back of this throat the older girl placed a hand on Minthe's shoulder she looked up in the direction of the hand, she was blind. "And you just let him keep her didn't you Gabriel?" She hissed Minthe looked down at the floor hugging the bear more tightly. "He wouldn't do that Leuce, don't say such things." She said softly looking up in Gabriel's direction. "Thank you Minthe, now if you ladies with excuse me I have something to give to Haniel." He started to walk away Leuce moved from her spot beside Minthe and grabbed Gabriel by the shoulder. She was just as tall as he was and had a fairly athletic build she tighten her grip on his shoulder. "What is so damn important about Terra that you left Galatea with Ishvara. She is the Captain of the Oasis, or is that you want this ship for yourself?" Her voice was loud and pained; Gabriel grabbed her wrist and removed the hand from his shoulder. "Don't doubt my intentions, Galatea will not be harmed but it is important we find Terra. Now stop you're nonsense and tend to Minthe. That is you're job, I'm Terra's guardian so let me do mine. Galatea would understand that much." He let go of her wrist and turned to walk away. "Gabriel…why is acting so mean?" Minthe muttered pulling the bear as close as she could, Leuce dropped to one knee pulling the younger girl close. "I don't know Minthe, let's hope we find Terra soon so we can have this sorted out and maybe things will go back to normal."
"What am I suppose to do with this Gabriel? It's a blue box…it doesn't open so what is it?" Haniel was thin and tall man who (for comfort's sake) kept his feet propped up on either side of the wheel. He had mousey brown hair that was a mess but kept down for the most part by goggles. He had blues eyes on a freckled face; he wore deep green overalls without a shirt, and black boots. On each wrist was a black laced up gauntlet. "It's a gummi block; it will allow us to travel to other worlds so we can find Terra. Just hold it over the wheel, it should sink in and bring up a whole new navigation chart." Gabriel replied, Haniel looked at him with a raised eyebrow then to the gummi block. He held it over the wheel and just as Gabriel said it sank in and within a second a map of blackness with little stars and various round objects appeared before their eyes. "Heh. That Ishvara must really want to get his hands on Terra. How do you plan on keeping her and Galatea safe once you get her here?" Haniel asked eyeing the new map and Gabriel from the corner of his eye. "He underestimates Terra; she won't be taken so easily. As for Galatea we'll have to get Minthe to make up a nice potion to take to her so she will be able to fight as well. That bastard won't know what hit him." Gabriel chuckled pointing to black world with what seemed like a tower rising from it. "We should start here, its merely a hunch." He said taking a seat in a small seat that was built into the ship with a bit of a guard around the seat. As he slid down into the seat the small black screen in front of him lit up giving information about the world they were about to visit. "Ok everyone hold on we're leaving Spira for a while." Haniel pulled on large handle to his left and the ship zoomed up and through the clouds escaping the planets orbit and flew off into the sea of stars.
Just as the four of them had gotten settled, Riku and Terra sitting on the low tree branch, and Sora and Kairi sitting with their backs to the branch Selphie came running up. The four them turned to look at her, she was alone. "Where are Tidus and Wakka?" Kairi asked while Selphie was catching her breath. "Chappu said they went on a trip. Wakka came home and packed a bag, Tidus already had his packed. We have school tomorrow how could they just leave like that?" Selphie asked placing her hands in an annoyed motion onto her hips. Terra perked up as though a light bulb went off above her head. "Wait, I've heard of them. They were two of Lady Yuna's guardians, but why where they here? Wait…if they left they must have gone back to Spira…oooh shoot!" She said to no one in particular, the four stared at her with the same confused expression. "They've lived here their entire lives. Just like Sora, Riku, and myself. How could they be from your world?" Selphie asked tilting her head to one side. "Well…maybe they're not the same people…but their names are." Terra muttered in disappointment, Kairi reached up and patted her on her knee and turned her to look at Selphie. "I'll be leave soon too." She said, the brown-headed girl scoffed. "So I'll be taking notes for the three of you lazy bums!" She said turning on her heels heading back to the bridge. "Aren't you going to watch the sunset with us?" Kairi called, Selphie stopped with a giggled turning to Kairi with a wink. Irvine asked me out while I was running down here, he going to take me to see that new movie 'Till Death' with Rinoa Heartilly. Well I'll you around I guess. Tootles!" She disappeared over the bridge, Kairi sighed leaning back against the tree. "What?" Sora asked trying to catch her eye. "She finally gave in to Irvine; he has been trying to get her to go out with him for months now. I'm sure Wakka is going to be heartbroken when hears about it. You know he has had a thing for her since…well forever I suppose." She replied, Terra leaned over to whisper something to Riku so the other two couldn't hear. "What does "go out" mean, is it like courting?" He face flushed again as he cleared his throat to answer. "In a sense, yes, when a guy likes a girl he can either asked her out on a series of dates or ask her to get his girlfriend, though most guys do a combination of the two." "Oh, so has Sora asked Kairi out yet?" Sora's head whipped around followed by Kairi both stared at her with jaw-dropped expressions. Riku laughed as Terra scooted back away from them looking guilty for something. "I'm sorry, I was just curious." She muttered, Riku began laughing harder Sora's face went red as did Kairi's cheeks. "Stop laughing!" Sora yelled, Kairi look shyly at Sora for a moment before looking back at Terra. "No he hasn't." She replied meekly then turning around, Sora had gotten up and was shaking Riku by shoulders as he continued to laughed.
"He's lost it." Sora said in defeat as he slumped down next to Kairi. Riku choked a little as he stopped laughing wiping a tear that had started to roll down his cheek. "I'm sorry but that was the funniest thing I've heard in a long time." He said giving winking to Terra who blushed and looked away. Sora tilted his head back on the limb looking up at Riku. "I hate you so much." He said looking back at the slow sunset. "Whatever you say buddy." Riku replied smiling at Terra who still kept her distance embarrassed by the trouble she had caused. "It's alright, they're not mad at you, just me." Riku said reassuringly motion for Terra to scoot back over so she could take a better look at the sunset. She bit down on her lower inching closer to get a good view. Silence fell over them as the blue of sky met with purple and pink hues the sun resting on horizon. "You should." Terra said causing the three of them to jump; the first stars had just appeared. "What?" They all asked at once. "Uhm, never mind." She said shaking her head to shake out her though and reminded herself to mind her own business. She pulled her legs up to her chest while watching the sun disappear below the horizon leaving a purple/blue hue in its wake. Stars started to litter the sky; she felt a lump settle into her throat. She was homesick, her family and friends must be worried sick. Tears were threatening a downpour again. "Hey, you ok?" She had realized that she buried her face into her knees she looked up to find Riku standing in front of her, Sora and Kairi had already started across the bridge. She nodded sliding off the tree he placed a hand under her chin bringing her head up to look him in the eye. "Your eyes are glassy again, are you still feeling alone?" He asked pulling his hand away, she looked down again nodding. "Then let's go get Iole, maybe she'll be able to cheer you up. He took her hand leading her back over the bridge.
He took her back to his house reuniting her with Iole who was happily eating various fruits that his mother kept feeding her. His parents took to the girl like she was a stray puppy he had brought home, his mother cooked a meal which Terra was so delighted to have she started crying again. After she had finished eating she became sleepy, his mother let her sleep in his room making sure to put a blanket and pillow on the couch for me. Once she was asleep he left the house and found Sora waiting for him outside the gate. "She ok?" He asked looking up at the house with worry. "She's fine, my mother made sure she was well fed and comfortable." Riku replied leaning against the fence. "How did they react when you came home?" Sora turning his back leaning against the fence, he pulled a bag of cookies from his pocket offering it to Riku who held up a hand. "We just ate thanks though. My mother cried for awhile keeping me in a bear hug. My dad stood silent before saying he was glad I was back. Do you feel out place here at all?"
"Sometimes, but wasn't the plan to go to other worlds. Three of us?" Riku chuckled, the promise they had made when they were young rang through his head. "I guess we're finally going to get that chance now." Riku said nodding back toward his house. Sora smiled deviously. "What?" Riku asked leaning up a bit, the younger boy laughed standing up. "Oh nothing. When do you want to leave?" He asked popping a cookie into his mouth before pocketing the bag. "Whenever you and Kairi are ready, I'm sure for Terra it would be the sooner the better." "Yeah, get some rest I'll see you in the morning." "Night Sora." "Goodnight Riku."