Sora couldn't feel comforted, even by Riku's words of encouragement and pats on the back. This wasn't going to work. It was better to just take the blame and pretend that Riku didn't exist. But of course, Riku was going to have his way with things.
"Sora, we don't have to tell them any more then how you got me out of the Door," Riku tried to reassure the brunette. "Kairi and Goofy and Donald don't need to know about… the rest of it."
Sora gave him a sharp look. They sat at the mouth of the cave, Riku's eyes adjusting slowly to the fading light of the setting sun. The younger pulled his knees up to his chest and muttered, "They're not going to like it that you're involved at all. It doesn't matter how much."
"Well, they're going to have to get used to me. I'm going to come with you," Riku replied easily, standing up and turning to hold out a hand for Sora. Sora looked up at him and sighed. He took the silver haired boy's hand and allowed him to help him to his feet. They watched the sun sink beneath the horizon before they made their way up the beach.
Sora was nervous, unable to hide it as they came to the house. Riku paused and narrowed his eyes that shifted back and forth suspiciously. "What?" the younger asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Nothing," Riku replied but it didn't reach his eyes. Sora felt a new wave of nerves rack through him. He put his gloved hand on the doorknob and pushed it open.
There was a soft golden light coming from the living room where Goofy and Donald sat hunched over a few maps and documents. It was hard to tell exactly what they were discussing, but it involved something about Halloween Town. Goofy looked up and smiled at Sora. Riku hung back in the shadows, waiting for Sora to say what they'd decided on in the cave. "Hey there Sora," Goofy said, still pleasantly, but this time it sounded cautious too. "Kairi with you?"
"No," Sora said, momentarily distracted. "I thought she ran upstairs."
"She did," Donald replied, looking uneasy. "But she came running down. We saw her heading towards the Paopu tree." Sora gave a puzzled look. He hadn't seen Kairi at all. Where could she have gone?
"She'll come back when she's ready," Goofy decided, putting an end to the conversation. Despite the warrior's easy-going explanation, Sora couldn't help but feel worried still. "So where have you been this whole time, Sora?"
Sora took a deep breath. This was it then. "I should have told you guys from the start, I'm sorry," he started, his eyes straying towards the floor. "The Door… came back to the Island."
"What?" Goofy and Donald said together. They didn't sound disgusted or aghast, but simply curious.
"It's gone now, but… I went into it."
The room filled with shocked silence.
"So, you let the heartless escape?" Donald said slowly, looking skeptical.
"I didn't mean to," Sora said quickly, walking forward towards his friends a few steps. "It was all happening so fast." Sora explained how he'd fought through the heartless to get to Mickey and Riku. Donald and Goofy were looking more convinced by the second. "King Mickey told me to take Riku… he was hurt. So I grabbed him and closed the door before more could get out."
"Wait, Riku's here?" Donald said, and this time his voice was harsh. Sora gave a weak smile and a nod. He motioned towards the door and Riku walked in smoothly, shutting the wooden door behind him with snap. Donald's eyes bulged while Goofy waved happily.
"In the flesh," Riku said in his smooth, sly voice. Sora held back his smile.
"Why didn't you tell us?!" Donald quacked angrily.
"I thought you'd go kamikaze on me and tell me I was an idiot!"
"Then you're right! That was a stupid thing to do, Sora!"
"We were going to have to do it eventually, Donald," Goofy said, patting the duck on the back. Goofy's big hand caused the duck to flop forward with a quack of surprise. Riku snickered. "It's just a shame King Mickey couldn't have gotten out first."
"Don't worry, he's all right," Riku said, and the room fell silent as all eyes turned to the silvered haired boy. Sora had never asked how things had gone in the darkness. It didn't seem right. "He was doing a whole lot better than me. He kept fighting, and he'll keep fighting. He's got more hope now that Sora was able to get through. We just have to find the Door again and get him back!"
"Easier said than done," Donald grumbled. "We have no idea where it could be. Plus, we have to check all the worlds to make sure they're safe. That's Sora's duty as the keyblade master."
Riku sighed, crossed his arms and gave a curt nod. He leaned against the wall, looking like the old Riku. Sora couldn't help but stare. It was like they were fourteen and fifteen again, completely unaware of the dangers around them. Then reality came crashing down on Sora again and he let out a painful sigh.
"We should get going then, huh?" Sora mumbled.
"Soon," Donald replied with a nod. "But first, we should figure out where Kairi's gone. I'm sure she'd like to know that Riku's back."
Riku and Sora exchanged looks. They both had a feeling she wasn't going to be very overjoyed. However, no matter how long they searched that night they couldn't seem to find the girl on the island. Sora was becoming increasingly anxious as he checked the secret place with Riku.
"Maybe she left the island," Riku said as gently as he could. Sora was off running before he could even get all the words out of his mouth. Rolling his bright eyes, the silver haired boy followed suit, looking sullen.
At the dock where the boat sat drifting in the waves, Sora let out a shout of defeat and sat down on the sand, his gloved fingers pulling at his spiky hair. Riku watched, his eyes wide with curiosity as a dry sob escaped Sora. Tentatively, he touched his quivering shoulder. Sora pulled away quickly, turning his back to Riku. Riku slowly pulled his hand back to his side, still not saying a word in fear of making Sora feel worse.
"I can't ever protect her!" Sora cried, kicking up a small cloud of sand. "All I ever do is get her in trouble! No matter how much I try, she's always getting lost or hurt or something!"
"Kairi's a magnet for danger," Riku soothed, sitting down next to the brunette with a sigh. "Actually, I think we all are."
"Humph," Sora muttered, still not looking at Riku. A few silent minutes passed before Sora finally blurted, "Where could she have gone?"
Riku's expression changed a few times before his face settled for grave. Sora had caught a flash of what appeared to be pity and hatred before it settled for a solemn scowl. "Sora, please, don't overreact. I think Kairi left the island by darkness… that's the only way she could have gotten out of here unless she found a sudden talent for swimming across channels."
Sora's eyes widened, and despite his friend's warning, he was standing and running back towards the house before Riku had finished his sentence. Riku grumbled as he stood. It seemed that Sora was having a habit of running off in the middle of what he was saying these days.
Back at the house, Goofy and Donald were waiting anxiously. They'd rechecked every nook and cranny of Destiny Island while Sora and Riku had combed the beaches. Sora skidded to a stop in front of them and panted, "We… think someone… must have taken her!"
Donald's eyes widened almost comically before he was scowling his usual frown. "Then we should leave. Kairi has to be in a world close by. Darkness can't travel all that far…"
Sora nodded gravely and glanced up. Riku had been right behind him…
"A little help guys?!" came a shout over the night air. Sora squinted in the darkness to see Riku stumbling back, his strange keyblade in hand, from a huge swarm of heartless.
"Gorsh," Goofy gasped.
"Uh-oh," Donald quacked.
"Finally," Sora grumbled. "Stress relief." And the keyblade master went running into the swarm with Riku.
N/A - Ohmigosh, guys. I'm so sorry it took me so freaking long to post this! I was having such bad writer's block... it was terrible. I know where I want it to go from here, so the next chapter should be up a lot quicker. Thank you to all my lovely watchers and reviewers, if it wasn't for you guys, I'd have given up on this story two months ago. xP
Jacqueline Out.