We landed in Traverse Town. I felt happy. Really happy. But, I still really wanted to ask Riku. How would I? I would have to some day, right? Some time, some way. But not now. Now, I stick with singing Hikari.

"If you ever need help, you can ask me! Just remember!" Mickey said, waving goodbye. I gave him a friendly hug.

"Bye, Mickey!" I said back. Mickey walked into the gummi ship and it took off.

"So, where are we going to stay while we figure a plan?" Riku asked. I shrugged.

"Well, let's look around!"

We looked all through first district. Nothing. Through second district. Nothing. Third district. Nothing. Then, we looked in between second and third district. There was a small pathway.

"Look, a cave!" I yelled. It really wasn't a cave, more of a sewer-type place. But he knew what I meant. Riku waded through the water and walked up to the bars. He wiggled them a little.

"They are loose. We can walk through here!" I helped Riku break down enough bars for us to fit through. It didn't take very long and, presto! We're in! We swam through the clean water. It felt good against my skin. We ran into someone else in there...

"Who are you?" The man said.

"Who wants to know?" Riku said, getting his keyblade.

"Leon," he said, getting out his sword. Then he dropped it.

"Another keyblade master," Leon nodded. He looked over at me. "And who are you?" I summoned my keyblade.

"Yet another one," I answered.

"Three out of four isn't half bad," He said. I had to think about what he said for a minute to understand what he meant. My brain wasn't exactly at the top of it's game today. I just wanted to sleep.

"Look, Leon, can we just stay here for the night? We'll leave in the morning, I promise!" I asked desperately. Leon half-smiled at me.

"I have a better idea. Go on that rock over there," He pointed to a large, flat rock perched on the wall. "Tell Merlin Leon sent you for a place to say." I sighed in relief.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you so much!" I studdered. I was pulling Riku's arm towards the rock. We hopped on and up we went. Then I saw a stone room. Nothing in it, just stone. A man with a long, white beard walked through the door. Riku spoke.

"Leon sent us here. He said Merlin could help us find shelter."

"Oh, well, I'm sure I can help you some way!" He said.

"Wait," I interuppted, "so you're Merlin?"

"Why, yes. Oh, I know! Eh... stand there." Merlin waved his wand. A bag at his side was spitting out rugs and furniture. I think it was empty. "Alright, now then." He waved his wand once more and up we went again. Yet another room appeared. This had furniture in it already, though. There was a nice, soft couch. Riku and I sat next to eachother. Then he lied down. Then I lied down and rested my head on his chest. Then I relaxed and...

I woke up to a crash of lightning. I jumped. I accidentally woke Riku up. I was shivering with fear.

"What's wrong, Mikaila?" He asked.

"The lightning is scaring me. I always was afraid of it." I said.

"You? Afraid?" I nodded. He got up and looked around. He opened a chest and grabbed a big blanket.

"Scoot over a little," he said. I did as I was told. He lied next to me and threw the blanket over the both of us. He turned over and held me tight.

"Are you still as scared?" He asked. I smiled a full smile.

"I feel better now, thank you." I wanted him to hold me forever. Just like that hug. I wanted it to last forever.

Another flash of lightning and crack of thunder. I turned over and squeezed him. I was scared, but not alone. He just patted my back.

"It's alright, it's just lightning, I'm here," he repeated.

The last thing I remembered from that night:

Hold me

Whatever lies beyond this morning

Is a little later on

Regardless of warnings

The future doesn't scare me at all

Nothing's like before

It was so true.