Disclaimer: Not mine, yay!

Chapter 13- Reunion

"Jeez, the number of things we have to look for keeps rising!" complained Donald.

"Not a problem. We'll just get them one at a time." Sora grinned and started walking.

"Sora! Watch out!" Goofy yelled as a Solider Heartless jumped on Sora's back and clung on.

"Darn it!" shouted Sora and tried to grab at it.

A slicing sound came from behind him and the Heartless split in two, giving up its stolen Heart.

"Don't be spacing out like that, Sora. It's pathetic. I thought I taught you better than that!" said a familiar voice.

Sora's eyes grew wide as he swung around. "Riku?!"

Riku stood behind them, leaning on a strange bat-winged sword and grinning. "I've been looking all over for you, Sor-"

Sora leapt on Riku and pulled his face out wide by the mouth.

Riku swatted him off. "'The hell do you think you're doing, idiot?!"

"Whoa!!!" gasped Sora in disbelief. "It's you! It really is you! Rikurikurikurikurikurikuriku!!!"

Riku swatted Sora again. "Cut it out, Sora!" He recomposed himself. "So, Kairi's not with you?"

"No… I thought she was with you." Sora slumped and cried silent tears.

"Your face'll stay like that if you do it long enough you know." commented Riku. "Just look on the bright side. We've finally gotten to the outside world. We're free to go wherever the hell we want, and there isn't anybody stopping us. I'm sure we'll find Kairi in no time." Riku grinned. "Don't worry, just leave everything to me. With me around, you won't…"

Sora leapt into the air and sliced a Heartless in half that was sneaking up on Riku. Riku turned to stare.

"Leave it to whom?" Sora grinned back.

"Sora… what did you-" Riku gaped.

Sora placed a fist on his hip and swung the Keyblade over his shoulder. "Gotten a bit better, haven't I? I've been preparing for a rematch ever since I started looking for you and Kairi." He jabbed a thumb over to Donald and Goofy. "Hanging out with these guys is cool."

Goofy ruffled Sora's hair. "Our Sora here's the one chosen by the Keyblade, ahyuk!"

"Who'd have thought it?" Donald jumped in.

Riku plucked the Keyblade out of Sora's hand. "So this is the Keyblade that I've heard so much about, eh?" He studied it and raised an eyebrow.

"Ack! Hey! Give it back, Riku!" Sora reached out for it.

"Catch." Riku made it poof out of his hand and into the open hands of Sora.

Goofy looked amazed. "Whoa, how'd he do that, Donald?" He whispered.

"Probably usin' one of those functions Merlin said Sora hasn't mastered yet. Though, I kinda wonder…" Donald trailed off.

"Huh? Uhh…" Sora blinked and looked over his Keyblade, wondering what happened. He looked up. "Oh! Right! You're gonna be partyin' with us, Riku?" Sora backed up and put his arms around Goofy and Donald's shoulders. "We've got this really awesome rocket thingy! You can ride around with us if you want!"

Donald scowled. "We can't be wasting time bringing him, Sora! And it isn't your decision to make!"

Riku frowned as Sora and Goofy turned around to Donald to argue.

"Why not?!" demanded Sora. "C'mon! He's my friend! Right, Riku?" Sora asked.

No answer came.

"Riku…?" Sora turned back and saw that Riku had disappeared.

*****

Riku stood on a rooftop, surveying the scene. A dark figure approached him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"You see? It's just as I told you." Maleficent said as she also watched. "Whilst you toiled away trying to find your dear friend. He simply replaced you with some new companions. Evidently, he now values them more than he does you."

Riku squeezed his fists tights.

"Worry not, child," cooed the witch. "You're better off without that wretched boy. Think no more of him and come with me. I'll help you find what you are searching for."

*****

"Darn. I thought I'd finally caught up with him too. Now the creep's gone and slipped off again… Stupid Riku…" Sora stared at the sky sadly.

Donald went to offer his sympathies, but Sora whirled round with a wide grin on his face.

"I suppose it could have been worse though! At least he wasn't injured or nothing!"

Donald fell down.

Sora continued. "And, who knows! At this rate maybe Kairi will turn up too! Er… something wrong with you, Donald?"

"I'm starting to suspect you've taken one too many attacks to the head, Sora." Donald grumbled from the floor.

"Are you guys finished?!" yelled Yuffie as she appeared from up the stairs. "If you are, follow me! We're laying out the battle plans! You don't wanna miss it!"