The walls of Disney Castle were still as bright as they had been when Riku had first laid eyes on them. After anexciting reunion with Donald and Goofy, the mage and the knight led the group of friends through the winding castle corridors, climbing up an alarming number of stairs before finally stopping in front of a ceiling to floor length door, sealed with an unbreakable force of magic. Sora tilted his head to the side, turning to Donald. "If this is a barrier, then how are we supposed to get in?"
The duck raised one eyebrow and smiled. "Like this!" Donald took a deep breath, before yelling in an extremely loud voice, "TAKARA!! THERE'S SOMEONE HERE TO SEE YOU!!"
Sora whispered to Riku: "Do you really think she--"
"COMING!" The pinkish violet magical barrier flickered for a moment, then finally dissipated into thin shards of glass, floating towards the sky. The door cracked open, revealing a very angry sixteen year old girl. "Jeez, Donald! Do you have to be so loud?" Takara crossed her arms over her chest, tapping her right foot impatiently.
"Taki, it's so good to see you!" Kairi stepped forward, a huge grin on her face, with tears in her eyes. "Look, I'm flattered, really, but—KAIRI!? Is—it really you?" A smile of equal proportions appeared on Takara's face as she ran forward to embrace her long lost friend. Both girls laughed with delight as they hugged, tears streaming down both of their faces. "Kai, you've grown!"
"I could say the same for you, Taki! How old are you now, sixteen?"
"You know it! Oh my gosh, Kai, I've missed you!" Takara let go of her best friend and focused her eyes on Donald, glaring at him. "What?"
"Why didn't you tell me she was coming!?"
"Hey, don't look at me! The King wanted it to be a surprise." Takara muttered something under her breath, but Kairi was quick to alleviate the tension growing between them all. "Taki, these are my two best friends, Sora..." Kairi pointed towards the fifteen year old blue eyed, brown haired boy, a sweet smile plastered on his face at the reunion he had just witnessed. "Hiya!" The ever-so popular cheesy grin that everyone knew Sora for lit up his face at that moment, causing Takara to smile. "...and Riku." There was a bit of hesitation in Kairi's voice as she said the other boy's name, and something in Takara's heart ached a bit when she heard it. Takara looked up shyly to meet the other boy's eyes...and a startled and angry gasp escaped her lips as she realized who it was. "You! I remember you! You were that boy!" Riku chuckled a bit at the way she referred to him, but a half-smile formed on his lips as his aquamarine eyes met the girl's butterscotch ones. She glared at him violently, withdrawing her two pistols strapped to her waist in the process. The guns clicked almost anxiously as the young girl aimed them at Riku. Her eyes narrowed, a hateful expression crossing her face. "What's so funny, Key-boy?"
Riku's lips turned down into a frown at that comment, and his eyes became icy. He summoned his Keyblade, placing it across his body, tensed for a fight. "Nothing. Just the fact that a girl with two guns is gonna try to kill me in a few seconds. That's all."
Sora, Kairi, Donald, and Goofy ran out between the two of them, hands outstretched. "Come on you guys, we just got here, and you're already fighting?" Sora animatedly waved his arms around as he spoke. Kairi cast a stern glance at her best friend. Riku dismissed his Keyblade, a cold expression still locked on his face. "Takara, put the guns down now." (1)
Takara's eyes narrowed even further, a scowl crossing her mouth. "No. Not until he apologizes for what he's done." She jerked her head in Riku's direction. Riku took a step back, a furious expression on his face. "What EXACTLY have I done?"
The gun-wielder took a deep breath, and spoke through clenched teeth. "Because of you, I have become number one on every villain's hit list on the face of the known worlds. Not only do you cause my inevitable death sentence, you exploit my power to EVERYONE! I have been chased from world to world by so many CREEPS that I have lost count! I can't even go HOME! I've been kicked off my throne like some commoner!! AND YOU HAVE THE GUTS TO COME HERE AND ASK ME WHAT YOU'VE DONE?!" The guns now shook in her hands, and Riku cringed slightly at the sight of them.
I wonder...if she'd really do it...I wonder if she'd kill me...
Suddenly, Takara's grip loosened from the handle of her weapons and she let them fall to the ground with a thud. Everyone winced at the sound, half expecting them to go off. When they didn't, Takara looked at everyone, including Riku, with a heartbreaking expression. A half-smile formed on her lips, but her eyes conveyed so much sadness...and pain. She laughed slightly, and her eyes locked with Riku's.
"The safety was on. Did you really think I'd shoot you?" She turned away, facing the long stretch of hallway before her. "Why would I use them...when I have...this?" A bright flash of light emanated from her right hand, and Riku raised his hand up to his eyes in order to shield them from the blinding brightness. (2) When he lowered it, he was shocked at what he saw. A maroon colored Keyblade was gripped tightly in the young girl's hand, thin metal strands forming a heart around the handle. A Keychain that was half of the Heartless symbol and half the Organization's symbol hung from the end, and the blade itself sported silver inscriptions that formed words...
Distant hearts, when rejoined as one...
may find the light within...
Riku looked up at Takara, a hint of sadness in his eyes. He could've sworn he heard her laugh. "Don't feel sorry for me." She dismissed the weapon, clenching the hand it had been in tightly when it was gone. "I got over that a long time ago. King Mickey will come and get me when it's time to meet. Until then, I just want to be left alone." Takara let her hands fall limply to her sides and started walking down the hallway leading to the castle garden. Everyone stayed rooted to the spot, shocked beyond words. A certain silver haired boy, however, followed the sixteen year old girl silently...but she knew of his presence. She kept her original pace, not bothering to turn around and face him.
Riku...you never know when to give up, do you?
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(1) That sounds a little scary when you think about it...
(2) HEY! Alliteration!
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