Reverse Eclipse

by The Jackalope

[Discontinued on this account. Check for it on The BirdFox Hybrid Productions] All Roxas and Sora wanted was to find each other and go home, not to be thrown into this frenzy of Heartless, keyblades and falling in love. [AkuRoku RikuSora]

5. 5

Reverse Eclipse

The Jackalope

First off, I'd like to list some amazing dedications here.

To all the wonderful reviewers who have been patient with us and have tolerated the utter delay that is has taken for this to be updated. To The Writer You Fools, who leaves long, wonderful reviews that help to both inspire us and motivate us to continue writing. This is also for the lovely Sorceress Fantasia, who helped give PR some much needed advice on a few grammatical aspects of this chapter. To Random Kyuubi and to Stealthe-Chan, who both helped to look over all forty pages of this chapter to check for errors. (I hope they caught them all!)

And last, but just as important! To Dualism! She's been going through some rough waters, and I've decided to post this to her as an early birthday present because she's just that amazing.

If you feel the need to read back the last few paragraphs of the previous chapter, go ahead and re-read the entire fic if you have time. Psycho Rooster went back a few months ago when she had some free time and changes a few things here and there and added in a large insight to Axel's past at the beginning of chapter two.

So as a last note, I demand you watch this video because if it weren't for me watching this, RE would be up right now.

youtube . com / watch?v(equals sign here)gx7yWOZwFR0

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It had taken a scant few seconds of stumbled apologies from the two teens before they were sent away by Reno's broken voice screaming at them to leave him be. Riku had gingerly lifted Sora up from the ground, wincing at the whine of pain from the brunet as they left the front of the ship and wandered into the belly of the vessel. The two teens entered a dark hallway, and once the electronic door had closed behind them they were submerged into a darkness barely lit by small lights marking out the hallway.

In the dark, Riku stopped, pulling Sora into a firm hug, arms wrapped tightly around the lower region of the brunet's back, where Sora hadn't been bruised. He said nothing, only taking a deep breath as he did so. He held Sora like that for a few prolonged moments before finally pulling away, dropping his hand to Sora's.

Quietly, he spoke to him, "Are you alright? How's your back?"

"I'm- I'm alright." Sora uttered, clutching tightly to Riku's hand. He gave the silver-haired teen a weak smile. "It... It just hurts- a little." He admitted weakly, looking away with an embarrassed flush.

The brunet didn't want to think about how many times Riku had worried over him. He was far too much of a bother, not worth that much of Riku's concern. "I'll be okay. Don't worry about me." He laughed weakly, trailing off and looking away from Riku with lowered eyes.

"How could I not worry about you?" Riku smiled fondly at the younger boy. "Even when you aren't being chased down by a horde of weird creatures, you're still a danger to yourself." Riku squeezed Sora's hand in an attempt to lighten the mood.

His eyes were starting to adjust to the dark and he could see Sora faintly in the dim lighting- he could also see that the hall they were in wasn't merely a hall, but was probably the only other room on the ship. The walls seemed to have rectangular doors on them, and small diagrams on them. The one behind Sora was a small picture of a bed- turning; the one behind him had a small image of a fork and knife. Back where he thought was a door to another room he realized had a small picture of a toilet on it.

"This reminds me of those really expensive yachts that some of the old folk have back home." Just mentioning the word 'home' made his chest hurt more than he thought it would have. Reaching out, Riku touched the switch on the panel behind Sora. With a whirr of mechanics, the door slid open to reveal three small beds as a light flickered and hummed to life above each small, cubby-like accommodation.

"Hey look." Riku nudged Sora to turn around. "Want to lie down?

The brunet gave the silver-haired boy a shy nod of head, moving to catch sight of the beds Riku had been indicating. "Yeah, actually." With that confession, Sora proceeded towards the nearest of the three beds, sitting down on it and leaning his head back. Riku followed the smaller boy a second later, discovering that on the inside there were small buttons for closing what seemed like a door that would hide the occupant of the bed from anyone who entered the room.

Sora scooted back on the bed so that he was nearest the wall, making sure that Riku had enough room so that the older teen was able to lie down on his side next to the brunet. Riku pillowed an arm beneath his head to observe his companion. Sora hummed softly, pulling his knees up before slowly lowering his body to lie beside Riku, their eyes connecting and unwavering before Riku spoke.

"Don't hide from me anymore, okay, Sora? Tell me what's hurting you." He spoke softly, not wanting do disturb the comfortable quiet that seemed to have descended into the room. Sora looked up at him for a moment, taking in the look of utmost seriousness and then closing his own.

"A-alright." He said, pausing before he breathed in deeply, letting the air rush out of him slowly before he re-opened his eyes."My back... everywhere it's sore, and when I move- it hurts... and I'm dizzy, a little nauseous and..." Sora lifted a hand to hover his fingertips over his left shoulder, wincing when he pressed to harshly on the bruises. "It's fine... just mostly my back."

Riku sighed weakly, a hand lifting to run through his own hair. "I had no idea it was so much." He muttered faintly, eyes trailing to look up at the brunet for a moment, thoughts mulling over in his head. Shifting, Riku crawled over to the boy, pushing Sora fully onto his stomach and then swinging one leg over the smaller teen and resting lightly on Sora's hips. "It's a little cramped in here, but can you try to help me take off your shirt? I want to have a look at your back." Riku's fingers slipped under the hem of Sora's shirt as Sora nodded. Together, they tugged the fabric over a head of chestnut hair until the shirt was left bunched around Sora's biceps for the teen to use with his arms as a pillow.

"I tried not to get hit." Sora uttered weakly at the sound of Riku's sharp intake of breath, making the brunet cringe.

"This..." Riku began softly, his fingertips hovering above the teen's bruised back. "It doesn't look like it's gotten any better since yesterday." He whispered, eyes travelling up and down the large injury. He caught his lower lip between his teeth, brows furrowed.

"Can I do anything?"

Sora shook his head, a sigh escaping the brunet. "It's okay, Riku." He murmured, hands twitching against the thin sheets. His entire torso was a dull throb of pain that had Sora struggling to take in even breaths without wincing. "It's alright, Riku, honest. I'm sure it'll heal fast." Riku didn't respond at first, and then gently climbed off of the brunet's back with a single hand lingering along Sora's hip.

"I'll see if I can find something, alright?" Sora nodded and Riku left the room to wander out into the hall. He paused, glancing around for a moment and then making his way to where there was a small, dimly glowing sign of a toilet. Riku hit the button, peering in and grinning when he caught sight of a medicine cabinet. The silver haired teen approached it and opened the cabinet only to double-take at the sight of rows upon rows of glass bottles. Most of them were filled with a neon green type of serum while the others held some type of amber colored liquid.

Riku pulled the green bottle out of the cabinet, peering down at it. Wrapped around the neck of the small bottle was a plain white tag. Riku squinted his eyes for a moment to read the label. "Potion..." He murmured thoughtfully, flipping the small white paper to mumble out the instructions. "Apply to injured area generously." His eyes grew wide in realization and he grinned in relief, hurrying out of the bathroom and back into the ship's berth, where Sora awaited patiently.

"Sora, I think I found something that can help." The brunet's head picked up from where it was rested on his arms and the boy glanced behind himself at Riku with a look of curiosity. Riku held up the potion, stepping up beside the bed and grasping the lid of the bottle. There was a scraping sound of glass against glass as he placed the cap onto the bed.

"Hold still, alright?" He asked softly. This earned a nod from Sora as the chestnut-haired boy resumed his semi-relaxed position. Riku dipped two fingers into the bottle, pressing them against the bright green liquid. It was almost a fine powder, and it reminded Riku of his mother's foundation, it clumped and stuck to the pads of his fingers, and a few neon bits of it drifted down onto Sora's back. Riku rubbed his thumb against his index finger, spreading the potion before gently pressing his fingers into Sora's left shoulder blade and smearing the sticky powder against the damaged skin.

It seemed to glow, as if identifying the injury, before slowly becoming absorbed, fading the bruising along with it. In place of the darkened skin, a scar began to appear, and Riku's breath caught in his throat, hurriedly dipping his hand into the bottle and gathering more potion into his curled fingers and allowing it to drip and patter onto Sora's back as he spread the green serum across the entire of the brunet's shoulder blade and a good portion of his back. Once again, the potion glowed and was absorbed, removing Sora's injury at the same time, revealing more of a scar.

But the scar wasn't any normal scar- it seemed to be shaped. Riku frowned, applying more of the potion, speaking to Sora as it glowed faintly.

"Sora, a scar is showing up... but it's in a shape. It's almost like... it's been drawn into your back."

"D-drawn?" The brunet boy stammered out, moving his head to try and get a look at his shoulder, but failing miserably. "What do you mean; a scar? Like a tattoo?"

"Kind of, but it's definitely a scar- it's like... hold on. There's still some bruises, but this stuff is clearing them up." Riku smeared some more of the green substance on, waiting for it to fade, and finally the scar was fully revealed.

It was a crown, about 2 inches wide, just the outline of it made out of red skin, typical scar tissue. It was so carefully carved in it almost seemed artistic, but what was weird was that it looked like it had been carved outwards- like it had come up through Sora's skin and broken the surface from the inside. And cutting through the middle of the crown was a key- much like Sora's keyblade.

Riku stared at it in awe, quietly describing it to Sora, disbelief evident in his voice. How was this possible? When did this happen? He couldn't even begin to comprehend it.

"A key and a crown?" Sora twisted his body to look at Riku, with disbelieving eyes. "Are you serious?"

Riku nodded silently, slowly pulling away back from Sora's completely healed back as he recapped the bottle of potion, setting it on the side-shelf in the small enclosure they were in.

"I wouldn't joke about something like this, Sora."

"Is... is it gross looking?" Sora turned back to rest his head upon his arms, staring ahead of him, "No. It's pretty detailed and looks... kinda like someone drew it on you carefully. Your back's healed now. Sora- do you want me to trace it with my finger so you know where it is?" Riku wiped his hands on his jeans, removing any excess potion on them, although the medicine hadn't stuck to him much.

Sora thought silently for a moment, before he nodded. "Yes... please." He murmured, closing his eyes so that he'd be able to get a better image inside of his head.

"Alright." Riku brought down his index finger onto one side of the crown, tracing it and quietly explaining his actions to the brunet in the process until his fingertip was lightly running along the shape of the keyblade.

"Do you have the general idea? We'll look for some mirrors once we get off this ship, I suppose..."

"N...Not quite..." Sora murmured. Riku's hands were gentle, with the faintest of calluses from running around the island with fake swords and blitzballs and building wooden forts. "Try again, slower this time?" Riku obliged with the soft request, returning his hand to the scar and tracing it with painstaking slowness. Sora's breath hitched with each feather light touch, and as the pressure deepened to become a firm drag, Riku could see and feel the muscles of Sora's back tightening beneath him.

Riku never realized he'd gotten lost up in the moment until he'd shifted down to drop gentle half kisses against the shell of Sora's ear.

A small noise. Not a moan, but not a gasp, left Sora. His fingers twitched against the comforter and it was then that Riku realized nothing but Sora could get him to stop. His kisses trailed downwards, gentle and chaste without tongue or teeth involved in any way. His lips met a tanned shoulder and they lingered before continuing painstakingly slowly back up a neck slightly taught with anticipation.

Here, he pulled away just millimetres, letting his mouth continue to brush against Sora's skin as he whispered the boy's name. Sora's head turned, just slightly, face clouded with something unreadable as he lifted himself up just the slightest bit and allowed Riku's name to escape him. Sora's lips parted a mere fraction and his eyes concentrated themselves on Riku's face.

Gaze meeting Sora's, Riku felt his breathing become uneven. He could see an emotion in the brunet's eyes- one he'd never seen before. Shifting to the side, Riku subconsciously moved the both of them into a more comfortable position as a hand slipped up to gently rest on Sora's neck. Riku licked his lips nervously, green eyes refusing to leave immobile blue.

Sora's head tilted upwards as Riku leaned down a split second before a deafening crash came from the cockpit- followed by an agonized scream that had Sora jerking his head to the side. Riku didn't react so quickly, too caught up in the moment to stop his lips from hitting Sora's chin and jaw line. Groaning, the silver-haired boy pulled back and sat up. "I should go check on Reno." Riku opened the door to their small hideaway and slipped out of bed. He paused to look back at Sora. "Stay here."

Straightening himself in the hallway, Riku exited the small side room and entered the cockpit, just ducking in time to dodge a flying object that smashed into the closed door behind him. Tears streaked down his face, the redhead was in a rage- Riku noticed that one of Reno's fists was lacerated and bloody.

"Reno! What are you doing?!"

"Shut up!" Reno's bloody hands clutched to a sliver of glass from the bathroom mirror- which he'd apparently shattered in his anger not too long before. Reno's fists tightened, blood sliding through his fingers and dripping to the ground. He wanted to feel pain; he wanted others to feel pain.

They didn't understand- Vincent was all he'd had left. Cloud had left him and Axel was sent away with the girls to stay safe. Vincent had stayed behind to help Reno protect the world. Riku didn't have to watch Sora's heart be ripped out and devoured, to lose the only thing left for him in his world. They were the reason Vincent was gone in the first place.

"Y'killed him!" Reno reared his arm back, throwing the bloodied shard of glass at the younger boy with an enraged scream. "It's all 'cause of you an' that stupid Keyblade Master that I ain't got anyone again!" Another shatter echoed around the room as Riku ducked to avoid the mirror. Reno's body seemed to act on its own, propelling the redhead forward with outstretched arms.

With wide eyes, Riku threw his own arms up in a defensive stance seconds before the taller man hit him and they fell to the floor in a heap. Riku cracked his head against the steel ground and hissed in pain before cracking an eye open to stop Reno's red-slicked hands from wrapping themselves around his throat. "There was nothing I could do!" He protested, struggling with Reno to flip them over so that Reno was pressed up against the floor instead. The man squirmed, his bloodied hands smearing red stains across the ship's floor from where Riku has decidedly pinned them to the ground by the wrists.

"You're not alone, Reno! What about your brother? You said you'd look for him, and he's out there somewhere, waiting!" It was obvious the man was no fighter- his thin body lined only with enough muscles to give him the agility he needed in a fight. Riku, on the other hand, had strength gained from wrestling matches with Wakka and years of lifting weights in his spare time.

Reno snarled, bucking his hips in an attempt to throw the younger boy off. "Axel's probably dead too! It ain't like we knew a whole lot about any other worlds 'sides our own, yo! Cloud- I bet he couldn't even save them! They're all dead!" Reno's voice cracked, his struggle becoming weaker as the blood flowing from his broken and torn hands slowed to a standstill to leave ugly smears against the cold ship floor. A half-sob escaped him. "They're all dead." A keen left Reno's mouth that caused a guilty feeling to creep forth into Riku's gut.

"Don't say that." Riku's grip on Reno's wrists loosened as the man's struggling ceased. "Don't ever say that. You don't know that. What if they're waiting out there, waiting every day for you to come find them? All you've done is pass them off as dead? Aren't you giving up a little too easily? He's your brother, Reno! This Cloud guy, isn't he your friend?" Riku hung his head, bangs slipping down to cover his eyes. "I know how you feel, not knowing where people are, or if they're okay. The worst thing is not knowing. It seems better to just assume that someone's dead instead of spending every day wondering, right?" Reno's bottom lip quivered as he stared up at the silver-haired boy. Riku moved to stare the man directly in the eyes. "That's not the solution."

Sitting back, Riku released his hold on Reno's wrists. He thought of Roxas and everyone on his island. He didn't know where they were, or even if they were still alive... but he had to look, because accepting maybe wasn't an option.

There was a pause where silence descended upon them, until meekly, Reno spoke. "When you've gone nearly a year wonderin' if any of 'em are alive, with no trace or sign from that they ain't dead- your hope just... fades out." Reno looked so helpless, sitting on the ground, legs crossed and hands in his lap as his gaze stared at flexing, red smeared fingers. There was a pause before the red-haired man's lips down turned.

"Do whatever you want." He murmured, moving a hand to help and push himself onto his feet, a fleeting look of pain flashing onto his face at the added weight to the lacerations on his hands. Riku watched this with an expressionless face. "Just... leave me th'hell alone." Reno brushed past Riku and towards the small hallway that lead to the sleeping quarters, blood dripping from his palms and leaving a scarce, dotted and splotched trail behind him.

The hatch door opened and Reno stepped into the resting area, ignoring how Sora sat up to greet him and moving to slide into one of the empty beds without a single uttered sound. Reno pulled the thin blanket over his body and a sigh escaped the redhead, back facing the world. Sora turned to look up at Riku with large ocean eyes conveying his confusion and was given a headshake in return. The keyblade wielder slipped out of his own bed, pausing to grab his shirt and slide it on, and approached Riku. The taller boy led him out into the hallway of the ship's hull, leaving Reno to himself.

"What's wrong with him?" Sora asked softly, earning a half-hearted shrug from Riku. His lips morphed into a scowl, and one hand lifted to grasp to the sleeve of Riku's hoodie, (which was actually his own) and pulled on it to stop his companion from continuing on forward.

Riku paused; eyes trained on the ground before he turned to the brunet and pulled Sora into an embrace. "He's upset because Vincent died. He thinks that everyone who left the world is dead now." The silver haired boy murmured. There was a pause before Sora released a soft 'oh' of understanding.

Riku released him, sighing softly and reaching a hand up to ruffle chestnut locks of hair.

"C'mon. Let's go out to the ship. When I was there with Reno, I noticed how you can see the planets and everything." At this, Sora's eyes and face lit up, and he ended up grabbing Riku's hand to drag the taller boy out of the hallway and back into the main area of the ship, where there still lay shattered pieces of glass along with streaks and drips of blood about the floor and leading down the hall and into the bathroom. For the next few hours, they wandered the ship until deciding that sleep was far too good an idea to pass up.

Reno was still lying as immobile as ever- though shivering so much that Sora draped his blanket over the redhead's body and joined Riku in the older boy's bed. The silver-haired teen shied away from contact until the cold began to get to them both, and they huddled together to keep warm until sleep wafted into their senses.

The next two days were spent entertaining themselves by wandering about the gummi ship and discussing which device did what, and how the navigation system worked. During lunch of the second day, as Riku and Sora sat inside of the small kitchen area, one very dishevelled and tired looking Reno entered the small room, causing both boys to quiet down and watch the redhead for a reaction. Reno looked out of place, bushy, unkempt hair and red rimmed eyes that darted from the teens, to the meal of sliced apples and peanut butter sandwiches.

Sora was the first to speak, and lifted up an apple slice. "Are you hungry, Reno?" He reached his arm out in offering to the redhead. Reno gave the brunet boy a weakened smile and took the proffered fruit, nodding once in thanks and taking a seat beside the younger male. Silence descended upon the group as they continued eating, Sora occasionally handing Reno slices of apple and half of his sandwich.

"Would you... like me to show you around the ship?" Both Sora and Riku gave him eager nods, and Reno's smile became a fraction larger. He motioned to the kitchen with a single hand. "This is the food area. There's fruits here- I guess they gotta be restocked at each world or somethin'... uhm. Most of th'things in here are probably all that non-perishable junk... bet'cha probably already knew that though, didn't'cha?" Sora grinned, his head bobbing up and down and Reno gave them an uncomfortable laugh.

"Yeah. Alright then. Follow me an' I'll show you th'engine room, so you know what not t'touch, yo." Sora and Riku pushed their chairs back and stood to follow the taller man out of the kitchen and into the small hallway. Reno pointed to the left, where two doors resided. "Okay, th'first door is the storage unit, and the second one at th' end of the hall is the engine and tank room." Reno began walking, his path lit up by the dim lights that lined the floor. Glancing back at the duo, he grasped the doorknob handle and twisted to reveal a large room with flickering yellow lights. There was a small area to walk, but in the centre of the room was a large, round jelly-like device that had multiple tubes sliding in and out of its dark red surface. A loud hum was constantly erupting from the device as Reno stepped into the room.

"This is the heart of the ship. It's old- that's why it's so loud... M'hopin' we'll be able to find a world that keeps track a'the gummi parts... I know that there ain't a lot out there, yo." Reno paused, his face screwing up for a moment. "At least, I think." He dropped his arm from where it was pointing to the large engine and led them around it to where three large blue tanks resided.

"These are... they're the oxygen tanks..." Reno's voice wavered, his hands clenching for a moment before he drew in a shaking breath. "The...oxygen tanks... can last one person fer a month..." He paused, swallowing thickly and turning to the boys with red rimmed eyes. "We was gonna have a 'nother one put in... for-" Reno's mouth snapped shut, but both teens got the message loud and clear. There was a fourth tank sitting nearby that was trapped down by two large belts, and there were wires sticking out of a small compartment beside the third one. It would have been attached, and there would have been enough oxygen for another passenger... Vincent. Reno's fingers clenched and unclenched and Sora watched the man breathe in steadily for a moment before heading back to the doorway.

"Movin' on," he called out, not waiting for the two boys as he stiffly made his way down the hall and to the cockpit.

Looking to Sora, Riku saw his remorseful expression and didn't follow Reno immediately. He turned fully to the brunet and placed a hand on his shoulder, tilting his chin up with his other hand so their eyes met. He spoke quietly so Reno wouldn't hear, and quickly so they could follow without arising too much suspicion, "This wasn't our fault, so don't even start to think it. If the Heartless hadn't attacked so soon, the tank would have been installed and it would have been fine. It was their decision to let us board this ship, so don't you dare start feeling guilty about Vincent, okay?"

Sora's gaze locked with Riku a moment before he nodded slowly. "I know- you're right." A sigh escaped him, guilt nagging in the back of his mind and heart. "I still feel bad though." The brunet murmured remorsefully, fingers moving to grasp the hand on his shoulder and hold it in his palms.

"Don't." Moving in smoothly, Riku bent down, intent on placing a chaste kiss to Sora's mouth when Reno called out to them.

"Yo, you guys get lost? Come on out here!" Reno's voice cracked as the man yelled for the two boys. Sora's head turned to the door as Riku's lips pressed softly to his cheek. His eyebrows shot up and he looked over at his companion, a shy grin spreading onto his lips before he leaned forward and gently tapped his lips against the older boy's right cheek.

"Let's go, Riku." Sora tugged Riku out of the room and down the hall to where Reno stood in the center of the ship's belly.

"Sorry, we were looking at something in the engine room," he offered, waving his hand nonchalantly as he stepped forward, away from Sora, waiting for Reno to continue with their tour.

Reno glanced from one boy to the next before walking to the very front of the ship. "This is th'cockpit. You can pre-plan your destination if you've already been t'the place and the coordinates are into the ship. You use th'warp drive to reach places that take more'n a week to get to." He drawled, hand pointing listlessly to the control panel.

"Warp drive?" Sora asked, glancing to Riku and then back to the red-haired man. Reno nodded once, a hand ghosting over the controls and pressing into a small green button. There was a hiss as four holes opened up in the floor just a few feet behind the boys. From three of the holes came a set of chairs complete with harness-like straps, but the last one remained empty.

Glancing to the vacant fourth hole, Riku once again knew what it would have been for. He didn't need to ask. Hands slipping into in the pockets of his hoodie, he quietly observed and listened as Reno continued the explanation.

"You... ya need to be strapped in durin' warp drive." Reno pulled his hand from the button and stared at the fourth hole. "If you don't, the force would probably snap your neck." His head rose to look at the boys. "We didn't have to use warp drive that badly though." It came out as a half-hearted whisper that was drowned out by a flashing blue light and a monotonous beeping tone that had Sora's head shooting up in inquiry.

Turning his head, Riku tried to locate the origin of the sound, "What's that? What's happening?"

Reno glanced at the screen as maps and text began to appear and scroll. "We're landin', apparently." The man muttered, approaching the front of the control panel once again. His hands flew along the keys as the ship lurched and let out a loud rumbling sound.

Sora stumbled, windmilling his arms and nearly falling down as the ship heaved again as it began to slow its momentum. Whipping his hand out, Riku grabbed Sora by the arm and steadied him, pushing him down to sit in one of the seats that had protruded from the floor, murmuring a quiet, "be careful," to him as the ship continued to shake and vibrate violently, the view outside the windows becoming obscured by clouds.

The ship swayed to and fro roughly as tree branches began to block an easy descent. Sora's hands flew out to grasp onto Riku's arms to steady himself as he peered over the older boy's shoulder to see foliage blocking their view. Reno was cursing under his breath, hitting another button on the control panel and then sighing heavily when the ship stopped after a heavy jerk that shook the passengers. Sora breathed out a sigh and glanced up at Riku, grinning and hopping out of the seat.

"Where are we?" Moving closer to the window, Riku peered through the glass, finding the action did no good- the window was pressed up right against a large bush of some sort and all he could see were green leaves. Reno was muttering to himself before standing back. "Let's take a look around, yo." He beckoned to Sora and Riku so that they followed him as the redhead approached the large door of the ship, hitting the button to open it. A loud buzz echoed as the hatch opened and engulfed the group in a blinding light.

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He'd been flying, searching for a Superior to teach the other boys how to become warriors. It had been a calm, cloudless night, perfect in aiding Saix's search. The moon was keeping him filled to the brim with energy. The calm had broken quickly enough when a group of winged shadow-esque creatures had dove at him, nearly knocking him out of flight. Saix cursed, trying to bat away the four monsters that were attached to his body, clawing at him wildly. He could barely see through the haze that had taken over. There was a multitude of flapping wings and inhuman growls and Saix cried out in anger, lashing at one of the monsters that had ripped his shirt, right above his heart. He hadn't realized that his concentration on flying had stopped until he went crashing through a window. The glass sliced at his skin, but also succeeded in causing one of the winged beasts to disappear in a plume of smoke. Saix scrambled to his feet, grabbing the shadow creature that was trying to attack his face and screaming as he threw it into the crackling fire place that lie in the corner of the room. He was angry- furious. These monsters had dared to attack

Saix could never anticipate when his body went berserk. It was like seeing through a filter as he lunged at the remaining two shadow monsters, pulling out the dagger from his belt and stabbing at it, only to have claws dig into his arm and rip open the flesh, blood flowing freely.

Things became a blur. These two creatures were stronger than their predecessors, able to dodge him and still fight. The room was torn apart, and his berserk mode was slowly dying down, only one of the monsters left. Clouds had begun to dot the sky, and moonlight was no longer filtering through the window. He gasped for air, unable to see through the blood that clouded his vision. His head was screaming in pain. Both shadows had managed to deal a blow to his face, leaving an X shaped wound across the man's forehead and the bridge of his nose.

His vision fell out of focus and he stumbled out of the room, trying to avoid an attack. He whirled around, barely blocking a set of claws that had tried to dig into his back. He hadn't anticipated the stairs, however, and cried out as he went tumbling down them, landing in a heap at the corner turn, dazed and watching dully as the flying monster advanced as another one materialized from the shadows to join its companion.

Saix registered the sound of a sword being pulled from its sheath, head spinning as he caught a flash of metal that struck through one of the creatures. A howl tore itself from the monster before it burst into a plume of smoke. The rapier flashed again and sliced the head off of the second creature, ending the battle in seconds.

"You there, can you speak?"

Saix's gaze wandered involuntarily for a moment before he focused them on the man before him. He could barely hold his eyes open due to the red haze clouding his sight, and weighing down his thick eyelashes, clumping them together. His eyes burned and he pulled back his top lip. "I can speak well enough." He attempted to push himself up, leaning heavily against the wall. "I apologize for the intrusion." Saix blinked heavily, squinting his eyes and trying to locate the man through his own blood.

"Perhaps I could borrow a cloth? You wouldn't happen to know what those things were, would you?" He reached up a wavering hand to swipe at the liquid obscuring his vision- though it did little to help. His head was throbbing with an agonizing pain that had Saix stumbling just the slightest bit.

"I'm afraid I have never seen such things before," The amber-eyed man looked at the blood covering Saix in distaste, but did nothing to assist Saix's plight.

"Tell me your name and what has occurred."

"I am Saix." He spoke softly, for each syllable that escaped him sent pain flaring in his skull. "I was in search of a Superior, one to teach the lost warriors how to fight." He looked away from the taller man, frowning deeply. He wasn't sure what had transpired, not exactly. "I assume they ambushed me, catching me in flight. Before I was able to fend them off, I fell through the window and into your home. I apologize."

This man, his moves had been swift, striking like a viper with that sword of his. Saix knew, right then, that he'd found the perfect Superior that he'd always been searching for. First, he had to observe, to confirm his assumptions.

Touching his chin thoughtfully, the aristocratic man looked off to the side. Identically dressed women and men were crowding around the room to examine the mess of broken glass and blood. Servants were crowding around the room, examining the broken glass and blood stains. Lifting his hand to the air, the man caught the attention of one.

She came over and curtsied, "Yes, Master Xemnas?"

He motioned to Saix with a hand, "This man was attacked. Clean and bandage his wounds, and then take him to my study."

"Yes, Master Xemnas," She waved over a few others to help her, kneeling down next to Saix as Xemnas turned on his heel, returning upstairs. Saix pushed her away- though he quickly allowed them to help when his legs gave out from underneath of him and he fell to one knee. Two men and the woman from before struggled to pull him through the halls and into a small bathroom.

After being thoroughly bandaged into a mummy-esque creation, Saix had been pushed through the halls until they reached a closed room. The maid opened it, pushing him inside. Had Saix not the ability to hover, he would have stumbled and fallen to the ground instead of using his abilities to stay airborne just a few inches from the floor.

Saix looked about the room as best he could with bandaging over his left eye in order to stay in place and cover his injury. The man -- the one Saix secretly hoped would become his Superior -- sat in a comfortable looking chair, a table resting in front of the man and an empty seat to his right.

There was a cup of tea held in his hand, and a book open and resting on his lap. The man took a sip from his tea and Saix floated over, not bothering to ask if it was alright as he seated himself in the extra chair, watching the man called Xemnas intently.

"Saix." Xemnas seemed to be testing the blue-haired man's name with a feeling of intrigue. "You can hover- how is this?"

Saix's hand motioned to the window, where the curtains were pulled back, to allow the moon to filter in through the glass. "My ability is driven by both my desire to find what I am in search of, and also by the Lunar God herself, who has granted me this gift. I am her child, and she, my mother. The Lost Boys have named her Jenova, and it is what I have become accustomed to referring to her as, also." He placed his hand back in his lap, thinking quietly. This man, named Xemnas, was perfect. His eyes were an unnatural golden hue that reminded Saix of the Father Sun, who gifted him with the power of a quick mind and strong body.

He held the older man's gaze, "I am currently unaware of my location or the name of the man whose home I am residing in." It was his way of questioning his soon-to-be Superior, and if this man passed his final test, Saix would confront him.

"You may call me Xemnas. We are on the outskirts of London, the capital of the United Kingdom," glancing to the table, Xemnas ran a long finger along the edge of his saucer, before looking back up to Saix, deciding to confirm his suspicions, "You are not of this world, are you?"

Saix raised his eyebrows, though the action could not be seen beneath the gauze that covered his injured face. The action itself had jarred the injury, sending pain lancing through his head. He clasped his fingers together. "You are very wise. It is true. I have never heard of London. I follow Jenova as she guides me in my search." He paused, observing Xemnas as the man's name repeated itself in his mind.

"I am in search of a Superior. One to teach the Lost Warriors how to fight- to protect themselves against the pirates who invade our home. You are of significant strength." Saix pushed himself up, floating over to Xemnas, his legs drawn up so that he was kneeling in the air, his shins inches above the silver-haired man's thighs.

"Are you willing to become my Superior? To teach my charges and I how to fight?" His hands reached out, almost hesitant, and then ran themselves through Xemnas's hair. Amber eyes twitched, flickering with something defensive, but Xemnas remained still.

"You have Jenova in you. Your hair is the color of mother Moon's spirit." His hands moved, thumbs resting below Xemnas's eyes. "You have father Sun's spirit in your eyes, golden as the rays that Hojo shines down upon us. I will take you to my home, and you will be given the best accommodations that we can offer in our harsh times. It is dire that you accept my offer."

"If I were to become your Superior, would I be taken to your world?" Xemnas questioned evenly. Saix nodded as he pulled back, landing softly before Xemnas and bowing low, one knee to the ground.

"Yes, and I hope that does not deter you from accepting my offer. It is a necessity that we have been unable to acquire. Please honor myself and my charges by accepting." His eyes closed as he eagerly awaited the reply that could possibly change his life, and the Lost Warrior's lives, forever. For the better.

Xemnas didn't seem to hesitate for even a split second as he spoke.

"I spend all my days with books, and it grows tiresome being alone." He stood from his chair, looking down at Saix, "I will become your Superior on the terms that you submit to me and my ways. Do you accept?"

Saix couldn't help the smile that crept onto his face as he stood upright once more. "How I have longed to hear that... my Superior." He stepped forward, holding his hands out. "It is important that we depart with haste. My time has run short, and our journey is of significant length. Have you any items that you wish to take with you?" He glanced around the room. It was possible that his Superior would want to bring with him a few of his books, seeing as they were in a room that held quite a few shelves stocked full of them.

"If you wish to bring a satchel of your books, I can carry it."

"That will be fine, I would not want to bring along memories of my past life with me. Let us depart." Xemnas returned Saix's small smile before taking the man's hands.

In the following two years, both men had grown close enough to comfortably share the same bed and spend the majority of their free time in each other's company. On the other hand, the heartless of London were no longer gone for good, and had begun filtering into Neverland to side with the infamous Captain James Hook.

After an attack on the clearing where Xemnas and the Lost Warriors resided, the Englishman had sent Saix out on a request to retrieve information on the dark creatures. The enchanted man had returned with a small book clutched in his hands.

It was a Captain's Log, containing details on the origin of the heartless (their source being a witch by the name of Maleficent) and which weapons were best used for fighting them, along with a list of different types of the monsters. A single page near the center of the book was in a different hand, a letter to Hook warning the pirate that a ship could possibly descend from the sky one day, and to kill the occupants on sight and prevent them from destroying the precious heartless.

"Superior!" From the canopy leapt a boy with short, silver hair that hung limply about his face. He landed in a crouch a mere feet in front of Xemnas, who sat up in his chair. The boy, Kadaj, was young and still learning how to fight.

"Superior, something is falling from the sky, heading towards the eastern clearing! It looks like some sort of weird ship..." The boy trailed off, seemingly unable to form the proper words to express what he'd seen.

Xemnas raised a brow, thinking for a moment before speaking. "Go fetch Yazoo and Loz, and then head towards the destination. Saix and I will meet you there."

-------------

Squinting, Riku finally pulled away the hand that was shielding his eyes from the bright light. It was natural light, he found -- which really wasn't that strong -- but after being subjected to dim, artificial lighting in the gummi ship for the past few days and the darkness of Midgar before, his eyes needed time to adjust to the sunlight again. It was a bit like being back home.

Sora gasped and ran down the hatch door, stepping out into the lush green grass- it was nothing like they had ever seen before, even on Destiny Islands.

Tall, beautiful trees lined the clearing, their roots thick and sticking out above the ground. The air was humid, and tree ferns provided hiding places for all sorts of creatures. The air was alive with activity, the cawing of parrots and other birds reached them first, followed by the rustling of leaves and the brush of animals moving about. Overhead, there was a dark blur, and Sora's head shot up to see a small squirrel-like animal leap to the branches of a nearby tree as the croaks of frogs and the loud buzzing of crickets and other insects joined into the melody of the forest.

The keyblade master watched in awe as the rodent from before avoided the strike of a large snake and scrambled up into the higher reaches of the canopy. There was a small noise from behind him and the brunet looked past Riku to see Reno in utter awe, stumbling as he tried to walk and stare at their surroundings. It was at that moment that Sora realized they were no longer dressed in their previous attire.

Reno bore a sleeveless shirt that looked like it was made of animal fur, with brown leather straps slung tightly about his torso and chest to hold it in place. Around his neck was another brown strap that allowed what looked like an animal claw to hang from it. His wrists were adorned with other odd trinkets that could have only been obtained from the forest itself, and the older man's pants were a faded black color, like a pair of old trousers that tucked into a set of ankle-high brown boots strapped together with that same brown animal skin. His EMR was tucked into a makeshift belt at his side- and Reno noticed none of this, rustling as he walked down the ramp and onto the forest floor.

Sora's gaze turned to Riku and he jumped, slapping a hand over his mouth to conceal laughter.

Riku turned to give him an odd look, and Sora pointed to the brown hat that had been plunked onto Riku's silver head. The aforementioned boy reached up and pulled it down with a scowl before noticing his own clothes with furrowed brows. Green vines roped up the sleeves of his thin brown shirt, exposing his muscled arms. The shirt was like some sort of short, brown, fox fur that had been sewn together with wide stitches, but left his chest bare and exposed, like a vest, and Sora couldn't help but trail his eyes downwards, past his navel and across a pale stomach until his gaze was cut off by a pair of russet pants, tied about Riku's hips with a belt made of vines. The pants covered the heels of Riku's brown moccasins, and Sora looked back up at him with a grin. "You look cute."

"Cute?!" Riku threw the hat to the side, brushing a hand through his hair. "Be careful how you use that word, Sora. I am anything but cute. You, however..." Riku's voice faded out, his gaze dragging up Sora's form to show the brunet that his clothes had changed as well.

Sora sent Riku the smallest of his glaring pouts that he could muster and stared down at himself.

It was then that Sora realized why the air had felt so humid to him. He was barely wearing a shirt. It was more of a half shirt, tied together with both vines and animal leather. It slung over his left shoulder, and dipped down his chest until it curved under his right arm. Sora guessed by the feel of things that he was most likely wearing something that was once animal hide, and had been modified into fabric to wear. It was short, but the midriff that was exposed barely showed off his lower stomach before it was cut off by his pants, held on by two sets of leather roping. Sora grabbed the hem of his shirt, and tugged it down to cover his tummy- only to have the shirt ride back up once he stood straight. He scowled, crossing his arms over his chest and ignoring the odd feel of stitched leather boots covering his bare feet. "What is that supposed to mean?"

Riku leant down so he was at eye-level with Sora, a wide grin sliding into place, eyebrows rising suggestively.

Sora's ocean eyes flew wide and he flushed in embarrassment, pulling down his shirt to cover his stomach in vain once more. "That's not funny, Riku." He replied indignantly, scowling up at the taller boy and thumping a fist into Riku's chest. Riku only laughed in reply, slinging an arm around the boy's shoulders, turning to face Reno.

Sora's arm rested itself around Riku's waist, and he watched Reno with a grin. At some point in time, he'd looked down, and was now staring at his clothes and fingering them with a mixture of disgust and surprise before he whirled around to look at both of the boys with a face that portrayed mild distress. "I'm all up or a costume change an' all, but I liked that suit." Reno made his way up to them, nearly tripping over his own feet as Sora's arm fell from Riku's side.

"They changed when the hatch door opened. We were wearing our own clothes before we landed. I know I really should be more shocked, but after flying through space for a few days I think I've been desensitized to anything out of the ordinary..." Riku grumbled, turning to look down at Sora's hand. It was then that the silver-haired boy took notice that his companion was holding the keyblade. "Why have you got that out, Sora?"

Sora hadn't realized the blade had been clutched in his hands until Riku pointed it out. He glanced down, jumping a little in surprise when the keyblade disappeared suddenly from Sora's hand. The suddenness of their costume change had prompted Sora to forget that the blade had appeared as soon as the hatch had opened.

He turned to Riku, smacking his first into his now empty palm in realization, "On the ship! When the hatch first opened, it appeared in my hand. Then it glowed really bright, so I covered my eyes..." Sora paused for a moment, contemplating. "Uh, I don't really know why it appeared, I just remember it being in my hand for some reason..."

Reno paused for a second, head dropping and hands coming up to motion for the two boys to wait a moment. "Hold on, hold on. This sounds familiar..." He brought a hand up to his chin, in a classic hold-the-phone-I'm-churning-the-gears-in-my-little-brain pose. Riku and Sora stared at him for a long moment, before Reno snapped his fingers, a grin on his face.

"That's it! When I was told about the Keyblade from my old boss, I was told the Keyblade Master ain't gonna be from every world, so his being from another place and all could disrupt a bunch of world order and all that mumbo jumbo. So the Keyblade would try to hide him from the darkness by disguising him as a person from that world. So it's gotta change your clothes or somethin' so ya fit in with everyone else, right?" He looked from Sora, to Riku, and then back again.

Riku placed a hand on his bare hip, thinking hard. "Well, I suppose that makes sense... but why did our clothes change too?" Sora shifted his stance from one foot to the other, and the brunet shifted his gaze to the forest to watch a small handful of colourful birds flutter out of the canopy.

Reno shrugged weakly.. "I'm figurin' since we ain't from here either, the Keyblade's just tryin' to make do, yo."

Sora hummed, brows furrowed. "Okay then." He lifted his right arm, concentrating with little effort to summon the Keyblade as it appeared in his hand with a flash of light. "Does this mean... I can get those pants I really wanted, but my mom wouldn't let me get?" Sora's eyes seemed to brighten and he held up the keyblade in both hands to give it a violent shake. "C'mon, you! Change my clothes!" The boy growled out, eyes narrowing at the weapon when it remained the same as before- as did their clothes.

A silence fell over the small troupe and Sora peeked up to see Riku and Reno staring at him blankly. Embarrassed, the boy allowed the keyblade to disappear in a flash of light. "Heh, yeah." Sora weakly laughed, giving them an awkward shrug and making Riku's face broke into the tiniest of smirks.

There was a crackling of branches from above as a trio of silver-haired boys leapt into the clearing, startling the group as Riku instinctively stepped in front of Sora. This action caught the attention of one of the boys, who looked to be the shortest, with medium length hair that hung in his face. Their gazes locked for a moment before a man with bright blue hair stepped out into the small clearing, bowing low to the three of them. All four of the newcomers wore matching outfits of fur that wrapped around their hips and covered their shoulders like vests.

"Welcome to Neverland, esteemed Keyblade Master." Spoke the blue-haired man the man's eyes locked with Sora's, and the brunet took notice of the large and jagged scar that criss-crossed over the man's eyes. "We were fortunate enough to obtain Captain Hook's journal and anticipate your arrival before he was able to get his hook on you." The man stood, and Sora's gaze darted to the three boys, taking notice of how the youngest looking one never once kept his eyes far from Riku.

"I am Saix, and these three are the lost fighters. Kadaj," He motioned to the boy staring at Riku, "Loz," This time to a taller, and strongly built young man with wispy pale hair, "And Yazoo," Finally, he motioned to a tall, long haired boy who wasn't even watching the group - but Kadaj - with down-turned lips.

Riku looked away from Kadaj and behind himself to Sora the second the brunet's fingers moved to nervously grip the bicep of his right arm. Not too much further behind them was Reno- who was regarding the group in front of them silently. Riku's eyes locked with a set of glowing blue for a few seconds to convey a silent question. Reno nodded and Riku turned back to face the newcomers.

"My name is Riku, and this is Sora and Reno." He gestured to his friends as he spoke. "What is your business with us?"

It seemed that Riku's formality surprised them, and Kadaj's eyes widened before they narrowed with a smile, and Saix bobbed his head calmly in a nod. "Our superior wishes to discuss with you the matters of our world and the growing heartless, young knight." Riku shifted his feet at the title, but said nothing.

Sora's grip on the older boy's arm tightened, and his head popped up over a broad shoulder. "The heartless are here too?" He squawked out, hearing the shuffling of Reno's feet from behind him. The brunet quickly glanced back to see the redhead backing up into the ship, his body tense and eyes darting to scrutinize the forest he'd been admiring only moments before. Sora's eyes narrowed just a fraction and he looked back at Saix and the others, stepping up to Riku's side.

"How bad is it?"

Saix's lips pulled back into a faint smile, while Kadaj narrowed his eyes at Sora, listening to the blue haired man speak. "Far and few between. Hook has yet to get complete control over them, but it is becoming a nuisance. They continue to appear in the Indian encampment, and have already tried to take the hearts of the maidens and the forest creatures."

Riku glanced over his shoulder to Reno, his brows furrowed in thought. "Reno? Do you wanna leave?"

Hearing the younger boy talk, Reno's gaze was directed with Riku's and their eyes locked for a moment before Reno shook his head. "No. I'm good. I'm fine. As long as those things don't start showin' up by the dozens." The redhead replied, reaching up his hands to wave them about and divert any negative attention towards himself.

"...Well, if you're sure." Turning back to the group in front of him, Riku nodded to Saix. "Alright, we'd like to speak to your superior. We have some questions ourselves."

Saix bowed his head. "If that is what you wish, you may ask your questions whenever we arrive. Kadaj will lead the two of you; I would like a word with your red-haired companion- Reno, was it?" Upon hearing his name, Reno jumped in surprise from where he was watching a flock of birds take off into the canopy and pointed to himself, earning a nod from Saix. He scowled and glanced at Riku and Sora, receiving twin nods.

With a low breath, Reno walked past the two teens and up to the scarred man. Saix turned and began walking into the forest and Reno followed. Sora tugged Riku down the ramp, shouting in surprise when it began to retract the second they stepped off of it. The three boys waiting for them laughed and Sora grinned up at them. Yazoo was the first to start walking, followed by Loz and then Kadaj. Riku was soon dragged behind them by an anxious Sora.

As they walked -- both of the older men talking to each other in hushed voices -- the boy named Kadaj began to step closer to Riku. Riku shifted, glancing over to the shorter boy as Kadaj spoke. "All of us anticipated the arrival of a Keybearer, but I never thought he would have a companion as beautiful as yourself," A hand rose to run through Riku's soft, silvery locks of hair and Kadaj was sent a dark glare from the brunet walking along the other side of Riku.

Jerking his head away from Kadaj's fingers, Riku took a deliberate step away from him and closer to Sora, slipping his hand down to intertwine his fingers with the smaller teen. He looked to Kadaj, but said nothing.

Sora gently squeezed Riku's hand back- but the native boy seemed unfazed. "I tell the truth. You look as if you yourself could be a child of Jenova, one of us... You should leave the Keybearer and that walking matchstick and stay with us." Kadaj's hand ran softly down the length of Riku's muscular arm, trying to convey a meaningful look to the island boy.

"He can't stay here." Sora interrupted, narrowing his eyes at Kadaj just the slightest bit. "Riku's our friend, and he has to help us find our brothers. Besides..." Sora paused, as if hesitating. "He's taken." The brunet held up their joined hands to Kadaj.

Riku stared at Sora with a look that was a mixture of shock, glee and embarrassment, but Kadaj caught the look and misinterpreted it.

"Looks like he doesn't feel the same." The younger boy muttered with a smirk. He returned his hand to running up Riku's arm and Sora glanced up at Riku to gauge the older teen's reaction. Before any of the three could continue, leaves rustled and Yazoo -- who had stopped and backtracked to the group -- approached the mischievous warrior.

"This is not the time for your games, Kadaj." A thin hand hooked into the back of the silver-haired boy's collar, and Yazoo tugged him away from Riku, which sent the aforementioned teenager staggering for a split second. Yazoo placed a hand at the back of Kadaj's head, his long hair swaying with the movements it took to force the shorter boy into walking in front of him. In the end, Kadaj threw Yazoo's hand off of him with a scowl and leapt up into the trees with a rustle of his clothes. Yazoo spared a glance at the two boys before following his companion.

Sora loosened the grip his fingers had on Riku's hand, wiggling his wrist to free himself completely and continue walking forward.

"Hey, stop-" Riku grabbed onto a slight wrist, tugging Sora back to him. For a prolonged moment, they stood- yet blue eyes didn't meet his gaze. Riku breathed out an exasperated sigh and pulled Sora into a tight hug.

"That guy's an idiot. Ignore him, Sora." Riku murmured. Sora allowed his eyes to fall shut, head resting upon the taller boy's chest before Riku placed a gentle kiss to his temple.

Sora smiled and wrapped his arms around Riku's torso with all the strength he could muster before releasing his grip. "Alright."

"Good." Riku grinned down at Sora before pulling back and allowing his arms to fall almost awkwardly next to his body as Sora imitated the action. "Now that that's settled, let's try to not get lost in here." Riku gestured to the group ahead and Sora realized how far back he and Riku had become.

-

"I was found alone in my stroller, abandoned by the unforgiving world and found by mother Jenova." Saix motioned to the sky as he spoke and Reno nodded along with the man's story. "She took me as her own, nestling me within her cool embrace and granting me the gift of flight by allowing the fairies of this world to shower me with their magic." Reno hummed softly in thought, not quite taking in what exactly the man beside him had said as his lustrous blue eyes scanned the canopy and observing the animals that stared down at the group traipsing through their home.

"Soon enough, the Lost Warriors were found by mother, and I was sent to retrieve them and bring them here- though only Yazoo has earned the gift of flight from the fairies." A rustle came from above and Reno's gaze darted quickly to watch a small, monkey-like animal leap overhead and catch onto a branch before scrambling to leap again.

"Once I was able to locate our superior, we went about searching for a way to rid ourselves of my nemesis, Hook, son of Hojo, with hair black as death and a hand replaced with a hook from when I severed it off and fed it to the largest crocodile in these wat-"

WHUMPFH.

Reno staggered back from the tree he'd just run into with a look of stunned surprise, and Saix cut himself off to watch the red-haired man with an odd expression.

Reno fumbled with a sheepish grin, ignoring the loud and shameless laughter from Sora. Saix's raised eyebrow fell, and Reno shrugged. "I lived in a place where they had no trees. It was a city, yo. The flowers were so weak that they died as soon as y'picked them, and any flower girl around was the richest thing since The Don." Reno caught up to Saix, picking stray leaves him his hair.

"Me and my brother grew up in this place called Midgar, y'see. The world was Gaia- but we never left Midgar. Th' both of us lived in the slums, and it was a pretty shitty life. I know that Axel had always asked me about flowers, since when I was real little. There used to be this lil' bush a'dandelions out by where we lived and I'd sit there and stare at it for th' longest time- up until the air was just too much and they died." Saix nodded solemnly, and Reno took this as an initiative to continue.

"I've never seen so many trees before in my life, or animals, or even just the color green, yo." Reno's hand motioned wildly to the forest. "It was all just toxic air and buildin's. Midgar was dyin' before the heartless even came around." At this, Saix turned to look at Reno with a piqued interest.

"Heartless have come to your world too?" Within a half second, realization hit the redhead, and he clammed up, mouth snapping shut and his eyes becoming clouded with some unreadable emotion, gaze turning back to the forest once more.

-

Sora was pulled from his thoughts whenever Riku's hand pulled him to a stop. Loz, along with Reno and Saix, stood in front of a small clearing. The brunet frowned, and Loz gestured upwards. "See the largest hut? That's the Superior's." The taller boy's hand was pointing to a tree house barely visible from its obscuring height in the treetops. Sora released a small noise of awe as Reno released a muttered, "holy hell."

Loz's hand trailed over to another set of house-like dwellings that resided a little ways down from the first hut. "Those three other smaller ones belong to Kadaj, Yazoo and me. What might happen is that Yazoo'll stay with Kadaj and we'll let you have Yazoo's- 'cause his is a little bigger 'cause he's older..."

"That is correct, Loz." Saix confirmed, turning to face the boys. "Please ascend the ladder and I will introduce you to the Superior." He waved a hand to the first hut once more, and it was then that Sora noticed the strong, man-made vine ladder that was draped from the doorway of the hut.

Sora made to step towards the aforementioned ladder when a nasal, high pitched, nervous laugh erupted from Reno. The group turned to look at the red haired male as Reno pointed a hand to the vine ladder. "You're kiddin' me, right? Yo, man, I've seen a metal buildin' fall'n bad weather. I ain't climbing that shit." His thick accent had become decidedly rougher with the man's newly formed panic, though Riku simply raised an eyebrow at Reno.

"Then they obviously weren't built that well, were they?"

Reno glanced back at the silver haired boy, a scowl on his face. "ShinRa made everythin', man. The storms were bad, but-" Reno's head turned back to watch Yazoo and Kadaj come jumping through the foliage to land on a tightly drawn vine rope connecting two of the huts. The younger of the two landed first, pausing to look at the group until Yazoo jarred the vine's movement. The boy scowled at them and then made his way across the vine and into the window of one of the smaller huts, followed immediately by Yazoo.

"I can't climb that shit. S'not safe." Reno finalized, ignoring the irritated rolling of Saix's eyes. Sora glanced to Riku before speaking up.

"Safer than heartless, right?" Reno glanced back at the brunet and scowled.

"Heartless I can predict an' control, yo. I can't stop a twig from snappin' when I'm climbin' it."

Sora brushed past the older man with a roll of his eyes. "We did this all the time back home, Reno. Come on! It's easy!" The brunet motioned to the tree and then to Riku and the others before approaching it and then wrapping his fingers around the closest rung and pulling himself upwards, waving to the group. "Come on!"

"Most of the huts on Destiny Island were made from just wood and nails, Reno, and they all survived every heavy storm we had. Besides, we're in the middle of a forest, so there's protection from the wind and it's a beautiful day. Are you really that scared of falling?" Riku brushed a hand through his hair, a small cocky smirk on his face as he watched Sora start to scale the ladder effortlessly.

Reno shot the silver-haired boy a heady glare and then turned back to face the brunet boy who was scrambling up the tree. "Man, I'm gonna regret this..." The redhead grumbled and stalked over to the tree, hands hovering scant centimeters above the green rope before he grasped onto it and pulled himself up onto the first rung. Instantly, the rope began to reflexively sway from the moving weight of both Sora and Reno, causing the older man released a shout of surprise, arms wrapping about the ladder as he froze on the spot.

"Ladders should be made of metal!" The Turk cried out to Sora. The brunet grinned, peering down at the older man as Reno continued. "And they should be bolted to metal! With metal!"

"Stop complaining and just climb it- or were you planning on sleeping in the bushes?" Riku called out, jabbing a thumb over his shoulder, indicating a particularly prickly looking bush behind them. Reno shot the younger male a dirty glare before shakily climbing up the ladder at an agonizingly slow pace. Sora scrambled into the hut first as Reno made it halfway up, and the boy leaned out the open doorway to motion for Reno to quicken his pace. The man was taking so long that Riku had to resist slamming his head against the tree trunk in frustration. Finally, once Reno was near the top, Riku started to climb as well, scaling the ladder within seconds.

In front of them was the largest tree house, which they entered, finding a man sitting at the opposite end. He had long silver hair swept back from his face, and wore a plain white dress shirt that held tapered ruffles at each cuff, tucked into a set of simple black slacks, his bare feet giving an odd contrast to the entire outfit.

The man rose to greet them. "I welcome you to Neverland, esteemed visitors. I am Xemnas." He placed a hand to his chest, but did nothing more.

Riku stepped up to the front of the group to introduce himself, Sora, and Reno. "We were told you have business to discuss with us, but we have questions for you too."

The man nodded, "I will answer your questions; however, please hear me out first." Riku gave him a nod to continue. "Our world is being slowly invaded by an enemy known as the Heartless. We did not know what they were at first, but they came at the same time as the return of our nemesis, Captain Hook. We assumed that this was not merely coincidence, so I ordered Saix to find out more information- he infiltrated their ship and returned with this Captain's log." Xemnas lifted a small book that had been in his hand for the group to see.

"From this log, we discovered the name and intention of these creatures- that they want to consume the very hearts of living people. And it seems that Hook is meant to control them- but from his entries we can tell that he is having difficulty with this. I continued reading to find that a boy, known as the Keyblade Master, would arrive one day in a large contraption, possibly with companions. Hook was planning on capturing and executing you, as you are predicted to be his downfall. What we are asking of you is that you fight alongside us to help us rid our world of Hook and the Heartless. We will provide you with food and shelter, and you can rest from your journey whilst we prepare our attack. Will you help us?"

Riku hesitated, letting all the information sink in, before turning over his shoulder to observe Sora and then Reno. The man didn't look nearly as nervous as he had when he first heard about the Heartless being here, but what Riku did notice were the deep bags under his eyes. Grief never helped a person sleep well, especially when your bed was a plain metal cot on a ship. Reno needed a break.

Riku exhaled through his nose and turned back to Xemnas. "We accept."

A hint of a smile graced the man's features. "Excellent. Now what would you like to know?"

"Is Roxas here?" Sora piped up, interrupting Riku, who had just opened his mouth. Reno's gaze shot up from the floor, looking to Xemnas expectantly as well. "And Axel!!"

Xemnas raised an eyebrow, and Riku elaborated. "Roxas is Sora's twin brother, except his hair is blond. And Axel is Reno's younger brother, who..." He turned to Reno, looking for help.

"He's got redder hair than mine that looks like a porcupine got in a fight with a toaster oven and obnoxiously bright green eyes that could glow in th' dark." Reno made exaggerating hand motions as he spoke, his face filled with an eager excitement.

Xemnas hesitated at Reno's description, an amused smile almost flickering onto his face before he shook his head, "I am very sorry. The warriors and I monitor all who enter and exit Neverland, and we have had very few visitors in the past few weeks, none of whom match your description."

The brothers' hopeful expressions fell, and Riku nodded. "Thank you for your help."

Xemnas simply bobbed his head once in reply before Saix stepped forward from the side of the room. "I'll show you to your quarters and have a meal prepared for you. Please follow me."

Yazoo's hut was of fair size, without many personal mementos around it. It was difficult to tell that it was in constant use- maybe it wasn't. On each side of the hut was a low pile of leaves, covered with a sheet and a pelt quilt... this world's crude imitation of a bed, supposedly. Saix apologized for the lack of a third bed and then left quickly. Riku watched as Reno moved forward into the room. The redhead looked down at the floor, before he jumped up and down a few times, testing the solid floorboards.

"Hey... this is pretty cool!" The redhead drawled, a smile creeping onto his face before he quickly gravitated towards the makeshift window that consisted of a hole placed in the wall, and with a hesitant glance outward, began and looking around at the scenery surrounding the hut in amazement.

Sensing that Reno seemed to be fairly content with the room, Riku spoke up. "We'll be back in a second, Reno." He received a hum of acknowledgement and took Sora's hand, leaving quickly.

Blinking at Riku in confusion, Sora was just about to open his mouth and question him when Riku answered him quietly, knowing what he was going to say, "I need to talk to you, privately."

"Oh... okay." Sora followed along behind him as they moved quickly along the boardwalks in the canopy, admiring the surroundings.

Eventually Riku slowed to a stop, turning around to face Sora, "Well..." Riku released the brunet's hand, running it through his hair as he looked off to the side, thinking, "It looks like Roxas isn't here, or that Axel guy, so there really isn't any reason for us to stay here except for helping Xemnas with his Heartless problem." Riku paused for a moment, thinking. Sora made a noise as if he wanted to speak, but instead kept silent as Riku continued. "Personally... I don't think we should get involved in other people's problems. We'll only end up getting hurt. However..."

Riku's gaze returned to the hut and then back to Sora. "You've noticed how exhausted Reno's been, right? I think we should stay here for a while, for his sake. He needs the rest."

Sora seemed to intake his companion's words with silent thought, running them over in his head for a good few seconds before he spoke. "You're right... we do need to find Roxas, but..." The brunet teen paused, his fingers lacing with Riku's as he thought out his next sentence. "Reno's sad, and I agree with you. All this stuff here." Sora motioned to their surroundings as a series of bird calls echoed throughout the canopy in chorus with the crickets of bugs and frogs. "This stuff is something that could help him feel better. There's no chaos here, and who knows what we'll run into when we reach the other worlds." He said.

"I think we should stay, too."

Riku nodded in agreement, giving Sora's hand a gentle squeeze. "While we stay here... don't worry too much about Roxas, okay? Wherever he is, he'll be fine. He has a good head on his shoulders."

Sora's gaze averted to the ground and he released a slow breath. "I know, but I can't help but worry about him. He's still my brother." Sora stepped forward until his head pressed gently into Riku's collarbone. "You know?"

"Mmmhm." Releasing Sora's hand, Riku brought his arms up around the smaller boy and hugged him firmly, resting his cheek on the top of chestnut locks. "I know."

-

Xemnas had been leading Saix back to their personal hut. He had been running the events of today over in his mind, with the ship landing, the people from another world and the boy with the strange, key-like weapon. He knew this is what Hook spoke of in his diary- there was no doubt about it now.

But he'd had a strong sense of foreboding as soon as he had seen the Keyblade Master. He glanced at Saix as they walked in silence, contemplating. Stopping outside their hut, he turned to him.

"Saix, although I know that you are aware of my feelings, and have been for the past year, I regret that I have not confessed them to you verbally, or even expressed them physically as of yet. I fear that with the arrival of this ship, our days are numbered, and I do not plan to hesitate any longer."

Saix's eyes widened partially in shock. "Superior?" Their entire group was aware that Saix adored the Superior, and that the affections were returned on some level. Saix also knew that to nearly everything, Xemnas was apathetic. He could watch someone be brutally murdered before his very eyes without even batting an eyelash. To hear any form of a confession from this man was like offering immortality; an exceptional rarity, seemingly impossible.

Taking his hand, Xemnas brought Saix's fingers up to his lips, brushing against them. Pulling away fractionally, he murmured. "I am in love with you, Saix."

Saix's mouth fell open a half second before a bright smile lit his face. Lifting his free hand, Saix pressed the palmo f it against the taller man's cheek. "And I you, Superior." Gently slipping his fingers out of Xemnas's grasp, the blue-haired man slipped his arms across the back of his Superior's shoulders. He leaned forward with a grin. "How I've longed to hear that." Saix said softly, his warm smile never once leaving his scarred face.

Almost hesitantly, Xemnas brought his arms up to link around his subordinate's waist and he tugged Saix forward and into his chest, hugging the man close. He felt there was an almost finality in the movement, but hoped that his intuition was wrong. Pulling back, Xemnas gazed down into luminous eyes before pressing his lips gently to Saix's. Pulling back slowly and taking the younger man's hand once again, he guided him into the hut.

-

" Reno..." Sora piped up, his gaze concentrated on the thatch roofing with his arms tucked behind his head from where he rested on one of the two beds. From across the room, the redhead hummed curtly to show he was listening. "What was your world like- before the heartless came?" Riku glanced over at Sora, showing his surprise with a quirked eyebrow. Reno sighed, slipping his hands underneath his head. There was a prolonged pause before the older man spoke.

"Back home, in Midgar, we would go months without even seein' th' sun 'cause of all the shit coverin' the skies." The bed rustled as Reno shifted. "Man." A soft, half laugh escaped him. "That place was like a goddamned hellhole...Mom left us when me and Axel were still kids, took all her shit one night and was gone when we woke up the next day." Sora's gaze darted over to Riku, and the silver-haired boy slipped his hand over the brunet's, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"Back before she left, she had a flower. Just one." Reno's voice was a nonchalant drawl, a rough edge coating his normally smooth tenor. "Axel would sit and stare at it for hours- didn't care that our mom gave more attention to that half-dead plant than she did to her own children." A high pitched chuckle escaped the redhead, one that was fast paced and bordering on sarcastic. Sora watched Reno sit up with a sigh, leaves rustling beneath him. Reno leaned against the makeshift window, his face hidden from the boys' view.

"Axel was probably three, maybe four. He barely touched that flower and th' thing fell apart. Man," Reno released a dry laugh, "She was so mad. Hit him harder'n the cops would hit me when I'd get caught stealin' shit. She left a few months after that..." A long breath escaped the man, his head leaning out of the window to peer up at the sky. "After that, I don't think I saw any kind of plant 'till I was nineteen."

"How old are you now?" Sora asked quietly. Reno glanced at him for a moment before turning his head away once more. "Twenty three..."

An uncomfortable silence fell once again, neither Sora nor Riku had any idea what to say or do. Reno cleared his throat, scooting away from the window and lying back down. "I'm digressin'. Point is, Axel was just a kid - hell - I was a kid too." A sigh escaped Reno as he settled down, rolling onto his side and curling up. With a long exhalation of breath, Reno fell asleep.

Sora watched him for a few moments before releasing his own sigh and reaching over to wrap his arms around Riku. "G'night guys." The brunet murmured. Riku returned the embrace at first, but within the following half hour, Riku realized that his mind was too busy going over the day's events to settle down just yet. Carefully, so as to not wake Sora, he pushed the brunet away from him, scooting slightly to the side. He couldn't do this, not with Reno in the same room as them- although both he and Sora were asleep, he just felt... guilty. Why should he be able to be happy with Sora like this when Reno was so alone?

There was a flash of moonlight from outside and Riku looked up to see Kadaj standing in the entryway. The Lost Warrior's frame was silhouetted by the moonlight creeping in from the grass and vine flap that he held back with one hand. The silver haired teen crept forward ever so quietly until he knelt down beside where Riku laid, one hand moving out to slide through those thick silver locks of hair.

As soon as Riku felt fingers run through his hair, he flipped onto his back, whipping a hand up and slapping Kadaj's away from him, sending the boy a nasty look. Kadaj ignored the motion, as if it had only been a teasing push, and returned his hand soon enough before manoeuvring his body to crawl on top of Riku's thighs.

"What are you doing!?" Riku hissed, grabbing Kadaj's wrist and jerking his hand away. "Get off of me." He whipped out his other hand, pushing against Kadaj's chest to attempt to stop his advances.

"Isn't it obvious?" Kadaj asked softly, grinning as his hands slid back to Riku's chest, dipping beneath the vest to feel at the porcelain skin underneath his fingertips. Sora stirred, but Kadaj didn't falter, even as the brunet rolled over, squinting his eyes in the dark.

"R...Riku? What's going on?"

Riku froze. "Nothing, Sora. Go back to sleep."

If Sora saw him like this... he wouldn't know what to do. Kadaj's hands were dancing up his skin too quickly and his mind shut down. Without a second thought, Riku reared his arm back and he punched Kadaj in the face.

Kadaj fell back with a shriek just as Sora snapped upright in confusion. Reno apparently had been awake the second Kadaj had stepped into the room, and his laughter was now filling the hut as Kadaj teen hit the ground in a heap, holding his injured face and shooting Sora a heady glare. The brunet recoiled and turned to look at Riku with wide eyes silently requesting some sort of explanation as Kadaj scrambled to his feet and left swiftly.

"Pest control." Was Riku's simple explanation to Sora, before he linked his arms around the boy's waist, pulling him flush up against his body and nuzzling into the back of his neck. It seemed he was probably safer cuddling up against Sora, after all. Reno's chuckles died down soon enough and the hut was quickly filled with the heavy breathing brought on by sleep.

-----

Riku and Sora were awoken the next morning by Yazoo, who brought in a tray of food for them and then left. Reno was absent from the room, most likely having decided to explore their surroundings more thoroughly. Sitting with crossed legs on the edge of the bed, Riku chewed his small loaf of bread thoughtfully. As he ate, the silver-haired boy began to think. He wondered how long they'd be on this new world for, and how long it'd be until they left, if they'd ever find Reno's brother, or if they'd ever find Roxas -- and more importantly -- if they'd ever return home. He turned to Sora. "How are you feeling?"

Sora nibbled on the small tangerine slice that had been on the tray, leaning his head against Riku's shoulder sleepily. He hummed at the question, and then swallowed the tangerine before speaking. "I'm a lot better. I was really tired." He reached for an apple slice, taking a small bite out of it and wrapping his arm around Riku's.

"I... I'm starting to miss the island." He confessed quietly before popping the rest of the apple slice into his mouth and eating it.

"Me too." Riku inhaled deeply before turning and looking to Sora. "I don't know if it's just me, but this place does smell a lot like the sea. I can taste the salt in the air- it's nothing like Midgar." He sipped from a glass containing a vibrantly colored fruit drink, contemplative. "I wonder if there's a beach nearby... Do you want to look around after breakfast?"

Sora gnawed on another apple slice, pondering for a moment before he nodded. "I'd like that. It sounds like fun." He replied, glancing up at the silver-haired teen. They had some time alone now, but at the moment, just talking like this was enough for him. A smile was shared between them before both boys finished up their breakfast. Once done, Riku stood and put the few articles of clothing he took off the night before back on before picking up Sora's and dusting them off. Once Sora had finished his breakfast, he softly asked the brunet to stand.

"I've always wanted to do this." Riku smiled at his friend before suddenly pulling Sora's shirt over brown hair. Wiggling, Sora got his arms through it and Riku tugged the shirt down to his waist, hands lingering for a moment.

"C'mon, let's go look for that beach." Riku turned to the doorway, holding the door open for Sora.

Face flushed, Sora followed Riku out the door. As they walked out into the forest, Sora felt Riku's hand slide over his own, intertwining their fingers. He grinned to himself, stepping closer to the silver-haired teen as they made their way through the trees. It was a companionable silence, sometimes filled with mindless chatter about odd things, theories on the heartless and such. Sora's face lit up when he heard the sound of crashing waves reach his ears and turned to face Riku, smiling brightly. "I hear the ocean! C'mon!" He began to jog, tugging Riku along as his heart swelled with excitement. Though it had been probably only a few days since they'd left the island, it seemed like forever to Sora.

They broke out of the trees to find themselves on a long expanse of sand that stretched on for about a mile. The waves that crashed up on the shore were nothing like the beautiful crystalline ones of back home, but it was open water nonetheless. A small, sad smile touched Riku's lips and he looked to the ground- he hadn't missed the island before this, but more than anything this beach made him homesick instead of cheering him up. But if it made Sora happy, he'd be fine.

Sora turned to Riku, his cheerful expression falling upon catching sight of his companion's face. "Riku? what's wrong?" He stepped towards the taller boy, hand holding tightly to Riku's own. "Don't be sad. Let's go make a sand castle." He gave Riku a small smile and stepped backwards, leading them towards the waters and pausing just before the shoreline. He kicked his shoes off, tossing them further up the beach and then tugging his shirt off with a shred of reluctance flashing through his mind.

"Let's go swimming!" And with that, Sora wrenched his pants down, exposing his pale blue boxers to the other teen with little embarrassment. "C'mon Riku!" Riku gave a small laugh at the brunet's antics, a grin lingering on his lips. "That's okay, you enjoy yourself."

Sora deflated for a moment, sending Riku a disappointed glare before running into the ocean, yelping at the icy bite of the water before he dove forward headfirst. Seconds later, a set of chestnut hair broke the water's surface and Sora shook his head to dispel excess water from his hair. He waved enthusiastically at Riku before diving into the water again, swimming to the bottom and pressing his palms against the sandy floor. Each wave that crashed above sent his body swaying back and forth and he smiled, digging his fingers into the sand before pressing his feet down and forcing himself back to the surface, breathing in deeply once he broke through the water. He wiped at his eyes, laughing to himself. He'd missed swimming in the ocean. It was a great stress reliever.

His left shoulder blade was itching violently, and he reached out to scratch at it, wincing when he felt the raised skin of a scar. His eyes went wide, suddenly remembering the whole of the night before, and, pressing his full hand against the scar, traced the edges of it as the ocean swayed about him. The wound had completely healed itself almost instantly, it seemed. All that was left was a scar-- most likely just a few shades lighter than his own skin.

He turned back to the shore, spotting Riku sitting in the sand with his legs crossed at the ankles and his weight leaning back on his arms. With a mischievous grin, Sora dropped his hand from his back, grinning and diving under the water to swim back to shore, emerging from the shallows and then jogging up to Riku. "Hey Riku!" He slid into the sand, kicking it up onto Riku's hand and leg in the process as he landed somewhat beside the older boy. Riku's lips quirked and he reached out a hand to tug Sora forward and against his chest.

"Sora, you're such a-" Whatever it was Riku had planned on saying was cut off by a crash from the forest, causing him to jerk his head upwards and catch sight of Kadaj looking flustered and emerging from the forest with a heated glare directed at Sora.

Riku scowled and tightened his grip on Sora, reaching up and pulling the boy closer to him protectively. Sora didn't speak, watching the interaction between the two silver-haired boys before Kadaj cleared his throat. "There's many places in Neverland to explore. Perhaps you would like me to show you some?" Kadaj's eyes were trained solely on Riku, but the older boy turned to Sora first to receive an eager smile.

"Sora and I would like that." He said to Kadaj. A disgruntled look flashed across the Lost Warrior's face before it was replaced with a dark grin.

"Then allow me to show you the Mermaid Cove."

-

Kadaj led them through the forest, and Sora couldn't help but smile to himself as the trees began to thin out, the ground becoming harder beneath his feet and the air cooling slightly. He'd only heard about mermaids in children's stories- and once mentioned in his father's journal... but to actually see them?

Sora grasped Riku's hand with a half-concealed laugh of excitement when the trees broke to reveal water not too far off. Instead of sandy beaches, however, it was rock, black and gray rocks that led out into the center of the water. There was a waterfall not too far off, and it all seemed to lead out to the ocean. When the group reached the edge of the rocks, Sora realized that there were no shallows. It seemed like the water was already too deep to measure by just looking. Kadaj stood behind them and both Riku and Sora crouched down at the edge of the rock. "Can we see mermaids like this?" Sora asked softly, glancing back at the Lost Warrior. Kadaj nodded, an odd grin on his face before he pointed out past them. Sora followed the finger as Kadaj whistled shrilly using two of his fingers. There was a moment of anticipation before five heads broke the surface of the water, their faces an odd shade of royal blue, hair varying shades of red to brown.

"Riku- look." Sora breathed out.

Riku nodded, though it was apparent that the older boy was just the slightest bit disappointed. "They look just like humans from here, though." Riku squinted at the water, trying to make out the tails underneath, but there were too many ripples in the water to see much.

The mermaids dipped down into the water, approaching and popping back up barely ten feet away. A gasp of awe escaped Sora's throat, and the brunet leaned forward with wide eyes.

Suddenly, the firm sole of a boot connected with his back, causing him to cry out in surprise as he tumbled into the water, hitting the icy liquid with a splash. The mermaids clicked out sounds of interest, diving forward. Sora barely broke the water for a gasp of air when webbed hands grasped at his hips, legs and shoulders, dragging him back down with a startled scream, cutting it off with a burst of bubbles as he and the mermaids disappeared into the dark waters. Shock caused him to release his only breath of air into a flurry of bubbles. His eyes burned with the salt of the brackish water as slick-- almost slimy-- fingers wrapped around his arms, throat, hips and hands. Everything was pulling him down, his struggles weak as his lungs began to burn. With a garbled shout, Sora's eyes opened to stare into a set of white irises. The mermaid's lips opened to reveal a set of fangs, her red hair floating all around them as she tightened her grip on Sora's throat. He choked and struggled against their hold. His eyes, nose, throat and lungs burned with ferocity as the water suddenly swayed around him and the webbed fingers that had been pulling him down disappeared. Something snatched the back of his collar, dragging the brunet upwards until he broke the surface with a loud gasp of air, coughing wetly and hacking up water. He gagged, clutching his stomach tightly with one hand and struggling to hold himself up with the other arm.

"Sora, are you alright?" Riku exclaimed with worry as Sora pushed away the older boy's hands to spit up seawater. He rubbed viciously at his eyes, nodding and drawing in gasps of air. Riku's hands rubbed at his back and Sora leaned back, sagging in relief when he was pulled up against a firm chest. He weakly opened his eyes to see a very wet and very irritated looking Kadaj standing before them with crossed arms.

"He wasn't going to get you at first." Riku muttered into Sora's ear before addressing the Lost Warrior. "Apologize to him."

Kadaj's face turned to a look of irritation, peering down at the coughing and shivering teen. His face contorted into a look of disdain and he returned his pale green eyes to Riku, using a hand to flick we hair over his shoulder. "Why apologize for trying to cleanse Neverland of foreign filth?" He asked softly. Sora lifted burning eyes to Kadaj, but his hurt expression was ignored. Riku growled from behind Sora.

"If that's the way you feel, then none of us have a reason to stay. We could just leave you to the heartless."

Sora opened his mouth to scold his companion- but Riku's arms slid around his stomach and silenced him. Kadaj's face screwed up with contempt and some other unreadable emotion before he turned and stormed off.

--------

As soon as he'd reached the forest edge and had become hidden by the trees, he broke off into a run, frustration and hurt thrashing about in his gut. He leapt over fallen logs and allowed stray tree branches to tear at him, not stopping until he collided into another person with a shout, sending them both hurdling to the ground in a heap. Kadaj gasped, quickly sitting upright atop the person he'd crashed into, his bottom lip quivering when he recognized the forever consoling face of Yazoo. The taller male already looked concerned, reaching a hand up to press it against Kadaj's face and tap his thumb just under a light green eye, brushing away the single tear gathering there. Kadaj's teeth clenched, his face scrunching before he collapsed onto Yazoo's chest, clutching to the older boy tightly as a single sob escaped him, followed quickly by another, and then another, until they melded together, giving him only sparse chances to gasp in air through his tears. "Yazoo, why can't he choose me?"

Yazoo sighed, relaxing back against the thick green grass of the forest floor, moving his hand to run through Kadaj's silver locks soothingly. "He's in love with Sora. You can't change that. I told you that if you forced yourself on him, all you'd do is push him away."

"But why?" The silver haired boy exclaimed, his tears leaving damp, darkened stains on the fur of Yazoo's outfit. It was soft, and it always had this comforting smell to it that never stopped from helping to calm Kadaj down whenever he was upset about something. He grasped onto the fabric of Yazoo's clothing. "Why would he? He said he never wanted to see me again...why? I was just trying to help him see that I'd be better!" Kadaj had nothing against Sora, except that the boy was obnoxious and too cute for his own good, but for Riku to be in love with such a runt? Kadaj couldn't understand.

"I think that it'd be better if you never see him again, Kadaj." Yazoo's voice was calm as always, continuing to stroke the boy's silver hair. "You're losing sight of what really matters. Who you really love. I know you, and I know that you don't really like Riku. Think about it."

Kadaj's sobs had gradually died down as Yazoo spoke, those long fingers of his running through Kadaj's silver locks of hair in a soothing manner. He thought- and hard. In the four days Riku and the others had been around, Kadaj noted how the newcomer seemed to be filled with a caring confidence, a strong body, and kindness. It had attracted Kadaj to him...but as Yazoo spoke, the younger boy slowly began to realize the little similarities between the person who he was chasing, and the one waiting right in front of him. Kadaj sat back, placing his hands on Yazoo's chest, his hair slipping down to hang around his head, brushing against his cheeks and chin as he stared at Yazoo with a look of utmost concentration. His hand rose, pressing against the taller boy's face and tracing the outline of his lips and then nose, before circling his brow and then cupping Yazoo's face. "You knew, didn't you?"

"Yes. I've known for a long time." A small, rare smile graced his lips as he spoke."You're not too good at spying, Kadaj. I catch you every time you think you're being sly."

Kadaj's eyes went wide for a moment before ducking his head. "Forgive me, I was a fool."

A small chuckle escaped Yazoo's throat. "Well, that's about to change." His hands rose, sliding about Kadaj's neck to pull the younger boy forward.

--------

As soon as Kadaj disappeared from sight, Riku's grip on Sora tightened and he turned the brunet around just enough so they could see each other clearly. "Sora... are you alright?" He asked softly, running one hand through wet locks of chestnut hair.

Sora nodded, taking in a deep breath and letting it out. "I'm fi-" Riku's lips pressed tightly against his own and Sora's heart leapt into his throat, eyes fluttering shut. The older boy pulled back and released an unsteady breath, pressing his forehead against Sora's.

"I'm sorry I couldn't get you myself- I knew they'd just take me under too." Riku murmured. A grin broke across Sora's face, despite their topic of conversation.

"It's okay." Sora said. Riku's free hand moved up to cup Sora's cheek, and he leaned forward, pushing his lips up against soft pink ones in return. His heart felt like it had sighed, and he even more relaxed now than he had ever before, yet at the same time his heart was thundering in his chest, making him lightheaded and giddy, and he wanted to smile and grin but he had this gentle touch against his lips and he couldn't, he wouldn't break it, not for the world.

Sora couldn't help but grin against Riku's lips, somewhat breaking the kiss as his arms slung themselves around Riku's neck and he pushed himself forward to tackle Riku backwards with a muffled laugh, near tears with relief and happiness. Sora pulled back just enough to grin wildly at Riku before he was tugged down into yet another lip lock.

The kisses were light and gentle, almost shy, and continued so in a similar fashion for several minutes before they eventually parted. Nuzzling into Riku's neck, Sora's silly grin was contagious enough that Riku had a nearly identical one. He ran his fingers through brown hair and stared up at the cloudy sky, recognizing the signs of possible rain and sitting up. "We should probably head back to camp." He murmured. Sora hummed softly, pursing his lips for a moment before he gently pecked Riku on the mouth and then nodded.

"Good idea..." He didn't move though, thinking quietly for a moment. "Do you remember how to get back?"

"I... no." Embarrassed that he wasn't sure where to go, Riku quickly tried to justify himself. "I suppose if we just start walking we should find the camp soon."

Sora thought on this for a moment until he nodded his agreement. "All right." Riku stood first, helping Sora to his feet and then taking the boy's hand to entwine their fingers together. Sora shot him a grin, leading them into the darkening forest. They continued walking for a few prolonged minutes- the sky becoming darker as more rain clouds settled in. It was then that sound of tinkling music reached Sora's ears. "Riku, do you hear that?"

Riku stopped, turning back to face Sora as he fell silent, listening. Faintly, he could hear the same echoing chime of music as the brunet.

"Yeah." Riku said faintly, keeping a hold of Sora's hand. He glanced around, goose bumps rising on his skin as the temperature began to drop slightly. "It's quiet, but... is it just me, or does it sound like it's really close by?"

"Yeah..." The brunet replied absently, before releasing Riku's hand and jogging forward, ignoring his companion's call for him to wait up. The music seemed to get louder the deeper into the forest he went. Rain had begun to lightly drizzle down upon them as Sora pushed his way past a large thicket of bushes, halting in his tracks and stumbling when Riku ran into him from behind. All around, dancing in the air about a monstrous tree, were golden lights that fluttered about with a life of their own. The tree itself seemed hollow, and beneath the thick buttress roots, light shone. Sora turned to Riku, ocean eyes wide, before looking back at the tree and grasping onto the older boy's hand, walking towards it. "What do you think it is, Riku?" He whispered. The rain began to fall gently, and Sora released a shiver.

"I don't know- they almost look like fireflies..." The music was much clearer now, but still quiet, almost as if it was being played by tiny instruments for tiny ears. It was coming from the direction of the tree, though the pattering sound of the rain was beginning to drown it out.

He turned to Sora. "Do you think the music is coming from the tree?"

Sora seemed to contemplate this for a moment, but whatever he'd decided on, he didn't say. Instead, his eyes alit with curiosity and he grasped onto Riku's hand tightly, leading the silver-haired youth forward until they reached the tree. Sora crouched down to stare into it, his face becoming a look of pleased shock. Inside, he could see fairies. Literally, small, golden and shining figures, dancing about to the quiet music that played from somewhere in the tree. Their sparkling wings fluttered, trails of jewel-like dust trailing their every movement. Sora's breath caught in his throat, and he clutched tightly to Riku's hand. "R...Riku. They're fairies..." He breathed out, turning to look up at his friend with such awe that it was like a child.

Riku looked at him with a raised eyebrow, using a hand to move wet hair out of his eyes. "Sora, there's no such thi--"

Sora's hands clapped over Riku's mouth before he could continue. "Riku!" He hissed, his brows furrowed in reprimand. "Don't ever say you don't believe!" At the odd look that he received, Sora pulled his hands down from over Riku's lips and explained. "My dad's journal said that it kills them, when children say they don't believe. Besides- look!" Sora grasped Riku's face and forced his head to turn and look down inside of the tree.

Riku nearly stumbled, but placed his hands on the tree to balance himself as he was forced to look inside the tree. He squinted as he was temporarily blinded by the glowing lights inside, but as he slowly opened his eyes again he could see little people with wings floating around, some of them playing on miniature instruments, some dancing, some singing, some pointing at him, some flying straight at his face--

Riku pulled back with a shout as three fairies blasted out of the tree trunk straight at him, sending both him and Sora toppling back onto the wet forest floor with twin splashes.

Sora squawked, grasping to Riku as he felt something move around in his hair, and a high pitched voice squeak out 'help! The beast has gotten me in its mouth!' His eyes grew wide and he flailed his arms about, reaching his fingers into his hair- only to make the shrieking fairy become louder and for its two companions -- one with dark hair the other clad in black -- fluttered towards him, the brown haired one kicking Sora in the nose and earning a shout of pain from the brunet. His hands flew to his abused face as the two fairies tried to extract their companion from his head. It seemed like the rain did little to help any of them, making Sora's hair damp and causing it to tangle the small creature even more.

Riku hurriedly attempted to help by brushing the brown haired fairy from Sora's face with the back of his hand. The action sent the small creature sprawling out into the rainy air a few feet away before Riku reached in and yoinked a small blonde fairy out of a mess of chestnut hair, holding her by her leg as he stared at her in a mixture of awe and disbelief. Seriously. Real fairies.

"Hey! Hey! Lemme down ya big ugly monster!" The little blonde fairy in Riku's grasp shouted, her tiny fists flailing about, wings flapping so hard that they weren't even visible- just tiny puffs of wind against Riku's hand that barely disturbed the rain. She squirmed about in the silver-haired teen's grasp and Sora leaned forward to stare at the glowing creature, his eyes wide and mouth open in awe. "Is it real?"

"...I... think so--!" Riku released a startled shout of pain the second a black blur whipped past, sinking a small sword into the side of Riku's hand, making him let go of the blonde's leg.

"Back off, buddy." The dark fairy growled in her small voice, mustering up the hardest glare she could at Riku. Riku's face contorted into a scowl as he waved about his injured hand, holding onto it after a moment to stop the flow of blood from the wound, though it was quickly washed clean by the rain.

"Back off? You were the ones who went after us first!" He replied indignantly. The dark fairy scoffed, crossing her little arms.

"You shouldn't have been nosing around in our landing."

"Your landing? How were we supposed to know that it was your landing?"

As the two began bickering, the remaining fairies stationed themselves next to Sora's head to watch. The brown haired one made a thoughtful humm, turning to look at Sora. "What were you two doing anyway, peeping in on the Royal ball?" The blonde one nodded enthusiastically, her small hand reaching out to slap Sora on the nose, earning a startled yelp from the brown-haired boy as he nursed his injured appendage.

"We were lost in the forest, and we heard music- so we followed it. I'm sorry if we were intruding." Sora apologized, looking genuinely sincere. The brown haired one waved her hands about. "No- it's alright. As long as you weren't planning anything funny. I'm Yuna." She placed a little hand to her chest, and the blonde fairy floated up beside her, mimicking Yuna's actions.

"I'm Rikku! And that's Paine!" Rikku indicated the black-clad fairy that was currently attempting to pull out Riku's eyelashes, and Sora laughed softly.

"She sure does seem to have fun causing it." Rikku released a small giggle as Riku batted Paine away from his face. She fluttered back indignantly, rejoining her companions with crossed arms and looking at both of them with a neutral expression.

"So? What's going on here?"

"They're lost." Yuna answered, waving her hand to indicate both boys. "They just followed the music. They're not gonna steal or kill any of us. It's okay." Paine seemed to accept this, and settled down just the slightest bit. Rikku fluttered around the two of them, and then up into the air before she dove back down.

"We can show them the way back to their home!" She volunteered, her small arms waving about enthusiastically. Yuna glanced uneasily at Paine, but when she received a set of closed eyes, the brunette fairy gave Rikku a small nod. It seemed that the rain did little to affect any of the small creatures' flying, and although it took a few confused detours, in the end, the three fairies led the boys back to the Lost Warrior's camp, where they were met with bad news.

Kadaj was nowhere to be seen, and Loz was nearby holding to his head, where bandages covered some form of an injury. Yazoo spoke softly, "Your companion has been taken hostage by Captain Hook."

---

Reno's head tilted to the side.

"Sora?" The man asked, surpise and a hint of relief in his voice.

"Yep, it's me." Sora pulled at the rope, cursing under his breath when it didn't quite give way. "I've almost g-" Before he could finish, a hand slapped onto his wrist, squeezing it painfully before wrenching him back.

"So, lettle whelp. You think you could get past captain Hook, did ye?"