Chapter 17: Summer Vacation Part 4

August 23, 2015
Time of Day: Morning
Weather: Sunny
Place: Radiant Garden- Hotel Lumiere

Day three in Radiant Garden, and none of us are hungover as fuck anymore!

But seriously, none of us had any idea as to how we got so drunk. It's not like we could single anyone out. The only employee we saw come into the party room, was the bouncer who brought us there, and it wouldn't make any logical sense if he somehow spiked the drinks when we weren't looking. It's not like we saw any kitchen attendants bring food in, it was already on the table when we got there!

It's sad to say, but we don't have any proof to show that an employee at the club put alcohol in the drinks. If anything, they'd probably just find a way to put the blame on us. This is probably one mystery we'll never solve. God, this is gonna be nagging the back of my head for a while. I hate leaving shit like this unsolved.

Regardless, now that everyone is back to our regular selves, we've decided that we'd go around together around the city. We're in the lobby, yawning our heads off, waiting for Penny to come and pick us up and bring us to this cafe for breakfast. Come to think of it, did he pick us up that night? God, he either must have had a kick out of seeing us drunk as hell, or pissed off that he had to deal with a group of drunk teenagers.

As of now, I'm just pacing back and forth across the floor, reading a brochure. I know I might walk into someone or something, but at the same time, I can't help it. Pacing around while I do something else is what I do when I'm just waiting for something.

"Hey Sora, watch out!" Roxas says.

"Hm?" I look toward him as I pace, but then suddenly I walk into some guy by accident.

"Geez, watch it kid." Wait, I know that voice. Looking up from the brochure, I spot a splitting image of me, towering over me. The only difference being he has black hair and yellow eyes. Instead of a crown necklace, he's wearing one with a blue eye on top of a red and black gear.

"W-What? Why are you?" I stutter at the man's appearance.

What? You forget what your dad looks like after a couple months?" He smirks.

"N-No, but why exactly are you here?" I ask. "Aren't you supposed to be on like the other side of the country or whatever?"

"Just taking a quick vacation."

"Hey Sora, uhh, why are there two of you?" Roxas asks.

"Oh, uhh, this is my dad."

"Nice to meet ya." Dad waves. "The name's Vanitas, but you can call me Van." All of my friends start to congregate around my dad and I. They say things I always hear when I'm around him like, "You two could be twins," and the usual banter about our appearances. But one thing comes to mind.

"Wait, if you're here Dad, where's Mom?"

"Right here!" I look to my left, and the first thing I notice is her striking blue hair. Don't ask me how the hell she has blue hair, because I swear to god she doesn't dye it. Like is it a recessive gene or something? True to her name, she's wearing mostly blue. "Hey there, my name's Aqua! I'm guessing you're our son's friends?"

"Hey Mom!" I rush to her and hug her. "It's still kinda hard to believe you guys are actually here."

"Well, we got some time to ourselves, so we decided to visit you in Destiny Islands."

"That was the plan, but someone forgot to tell us he was heading to the city," Dad accuses.

"Ohhh, so that's what I forgot…" I laugh sheepishly. How could I forget to tell them?

"Well, we stayed there for the night, met up with Zack and Usagi, and then came here," Mom smiles. "Oooh, your cousin is so adorable I could have just eaten her up!" Mom goes onto to bantering about how she just wanted to take my cousin everywhere with her in like a purse or something. That, and cuddling her all day, everyday.

"Anyway," Dad interrupts. "You guys wanna eat something or what? I'm hungry."

Time of Day: Morning
Weather: Sunny
Place: Radiant Garden- Mother Gothel's Cafe

"Sooo, how'd you two meet?" Namine asks, genuinely curious.

"The most cliched way you could ever think of," I joke. But seriously, it is.

"Oh can it," Mom says. "Cliche or not, you wouldn't be here if it didn't happen." Okay, that's gross. I really don't want to hear about my parents love story, honestly. She waves her finger at me whilst sipping her latte. My parents brought us to a cornerside cafe that surprisingly wasn't a Starbucks.

"Did you have to play the 'you wouldn't be here' card on me?"

"Yes, now storytime!" Mom smiles.

"We were both born in Destiny Islands, and we were childhood friends," Dad says. "It's like Sora said, the story's cliche as hell. Whether it be her saying she'd marry me when we were four, or the student council president dating a delinquent."

"To make it clear, I was the delinquent," Mom says. "Any of you ever heard of the Drowning Sirens?"

"You mean the gang of female students that went to school at Destiny High?" Yuffie asks, wide eyed. "You were a part of that?"

"I wasn't just part of it, I was the leader!" Mom says proudly. She pulls out her wallet, takes out an old looking picture. She's wearing the Destiny High uniform, a leather jacket over her shoulders, a hat with spikes on it, and bandages wrapped around her fists. She has a piece of straw hanging out her mouth, and a Struggle bat in hand, bearing the words Rainfell. "I was going through a phase."

"Some phase." Riku averts his glance from the picture, and back to my mom. "Even what I wear to school can't even compare with that."

"Her parents and the school made me deal with it," Dad deadpans. "Anyway, after high school, we both went to college here. She studied nursing, while I went for English because I had no idea what the hell I wanted to do. Afterwards, I enrolled in the Army to help pay off my student loans, and she went back to the Islands and became a nurse there."

"When he came back from his tour, he proposed to me!" Mom shows her ring to the girls. Yuffie, Namine, and Kairi were awestruck at my mom's ring. It's diamond encrusted and has raindrop shaped lapis lazuli.

"Aww, that's so romantic!" Kairi says.

"You should've seen how flustered and frazzled he was when he proposed." Mom laughs.

"We stayed in Destiny Islands for a couple years to raise Sora," Dad continues. "Come to think of it, I'm pretty sure some of you played with him at the park all the time."

"Seriously?" I ask.

"I'm pretty sure," Dad says. "I can sort of imagine so of you guys as little kids, and some of you look like some of the kids he played with."

"Which ones then?" Namine asks.

"I definitely wasn't one," Roxas says. "I was raised in Twilight Town."

Dad analyses each of my friends. "So I'm pretty sure it was Yuffie, Kairi, and… Riku, d'you mind moving your hair away from your face for a second?"

"Sure, I guess." Riku holds his long hair back.

"Oh yeah, it definitely was him," Mom says. "The look in your eyes reminds me so much of your mom! How is she by the way?"

"She's fine, I guess. She's still running the textile shop."

"So what do you know, it really is a small world," I laugh. "I don't even remember that."

"Anyway, because I was enlisted, I had to move from fort to fort around the country," Dad continues.

"It's why we had to move around a lot, and how Destiny Islands is probably where I've stayed the longest," I comment. "Or should I say, going to be the longest place. I am staying with you guys for a year. The longest I've stayed at a place was probably 6 month at some random military base up north."

"So in other words, Sora is a military brat?" Roxas asks. "I'm surprised you don't call your dad 'sir' or something."

"Nah, I'd feel like an asshole if I made him call me that," Dad laughs. "Pride doesn't cloud my judgment when it comes to my status. Sora should know that. Don't you, boy?"

"Geez Dad, you know I hate it when you call me 'boy' like I'm some random mutt."

"Oh, I know." He smirks.

As my dad stuffs a croissant in his mouth, my phone vibrates. Roxas sent me a text. What's the point in texting me if I'm literally right next to you, dude?

I unlock my phone, and- Are you freaking kidding me?. It reads, "Dude, Sora's mom is hot af!" with a drooling emoji with hearts for eyes.

Roxas, sometimes the mistakes you make are those of epic proportions.

"Hey Roxy, check who ur texting b4 u send shit." I text. "Now stop looking at my mom, you creep."

Next to me, Roxas picks up his phone. His eyes flash open. "Sorry."

"Anyway, have you guys been around the city much yet?" Dad asks.

"We haven't been to too many places yet, but we were planning to today before we left for the Islands," I explain.

"Is that so…" Dad grins. "How about we show you guys around town? Our plane at the airport here arrives at 11PM, so we practically have the entire day!"

"You'd really do that?" I ask. "You guys okay with it?" I turn to my friends. They're all nodding or shrugging to tell me yes. "Okay then, be out tour guides!"

Time of Day: Afternoon
Weather: Sunny
Place: Radiant Garden- 100 Acre Park

After finishing our breakfast at the cafe, my dad suggested that while we should check out a famous park in the middle of the city. Apparently it was built by some rich guy that wrote a children's book. I don't think my parents read it to me, mainly because all of the statues I've seen so far make no sense to me. Like, who in the right mind would think of a tiger that bounces on its tail?

"Ooh, let's take a picture by the bear statue!" Kairi pulls my arm, and drags me to a bronze statue of a bear with a pot of honey.

"Why would a bear be eating honey out of a jar?" I ask.

"Doesn't matter! Now c'mon!" Kairi's phone shows the both of our faces. Instead of making a regular smile, I try to make the goofiest face I could think of. Goofiest being crossing my eyes while looking up, and smiling with my tongue between my teeth.

Kairi follows suit, and makes a duckface and bobs her head back to make a double chin. She taps her phone, and the flash burns my eyes.

"Why didn't you turn that thing off?" I ask, rubbing my eyes.

"Sorry, I was in a small cave with the girls when we took a picture." Kairi starts blinking rapidly. "Anyway, this is going on my story!"

"Do you really have to Snapchat everything?"

"If I don't, my basic bitch side will ever be sated." She giggles.

"Kairi!" Yuffie yells from behind us. "Did you tag me in the picture?"

"I haven't posted it yet!" Kairi starts running back toward her.

"So," Dad suddenly appears next to me. "You two seems close." He has a grin on his face.

Uh… Ninja Dad, much? "How'd you do that?" I ask. "Since when you'd get behind me?"

"Doesn't matter," Dad says. "So, what's with you and Kairi, eh?" He bumps me on the shoulder suggestively.

Great, he's set his mind to find an answer. What sucks about my dad is that occasionally his brain turns into a one-track mind whenever something interests him. This time it just had to be what's happening with Kairi and I. "I-It's complicated… ish."

"Ish?"

"The point is, I turned her down," I make air quotes when I say turned. "Because at the time, I was…" C'mon Sora, your dad isn't gonna believe you fight monsters in a separate world using Personas!

"Was what?"

"I was kinda still getting used to living in the Islands, that's all!" Oh god, please make this excuse work. "Everything is okay between us now, because for a short time she hated my guts."

"Hmmmm…" Dad raises his eyebrows. "Okay, seems believable."

"What?"

"I'm not gonna pry if you don't want to explain in full," Dad says. "As much as I would love to know how you suck at your love life," Hey, what the hell Dad? "I know it's embarrassing to talk about."

"Geez Dad, thanks."

"You're welcome," Dad says in a smug matter. "But here's my advice." Dad grabs my shoulders and glares at me straight in the eyes. "DON'T. MESS. UP."

"Dad, I'm pretty sure I already knew that," I deadpan.

"You know what I mean." Dad lets go of my body. "Don't mess with a woman's heart. No matter how smart you are, it's the one thing a man will never understand. Got it?"

"Yeah, I do."

"Doesn't sound like it!" Dad circles behind me, and starts giving me giving me a noogie. "Now say it like you mean it!"

"Dad, stop it, we're in public!" He continues to grind his knuckles on my head, the pain slowly starting to intensify. "Fine, okay! Okay! I understand what you mean!" I start to laugh.

"Okay then." Dad shoves me away, and I almost trip over, but I'm able to keep my balance. "Now c'mon. Your mom wanted to bring us somewhere."

Time of Day: Evening
Weather: Sunny
Place: Radiant Garden- Rising Falls Mall

Sometimes it's hard to imagine how my dad and mom fell for each other, when their interests are the opposite of each other. My dad brought us to a park, while my mom brought us to the biggest mall in the city, or maybe even the country! Then again, it's not like the guys and I went shopping the first day we came to Radiant Garden, unlike the girls who did, so this all plays out nicely.

The inside of the mall is breathtaking! The colors you mostly see are shades of blue, which only compliment the many artificial waterfalls everywhere. Especially in the center of the mall where there's an outdoor amphitheatre, and one waterfall surrounding the entirety of it. Now that I think about it, all of this water is probably why my mom brought us here, due to her namesake.

Although, it kinda makes me want to take a piss.

"So, has has your summer been so far?" Mom asks.

"It's been… Eventful." Sorry Mom, I can't tell you much either.

"Eventful? Oh, you must be talking about those murders that happened in the town!" Mom says. "It must've been horrible that you arrived there once the first murder occurred."

"It wasn't so bad, it's just that people were kinda paranoid," I explain. "Other than that, everything has been fine. The cops even caught the guy that did it."

"Yeah, your Uncle Zack explained that to me when we were there for the night." Mom sighs. "All of that must've created a ton of stress and work for him. Speaking of which, how is he treating your cousin?"

Geez mom, that's not something I can just answer. "To put it shortly, Zack is kind of a workaholic. Usagi normally stays home when she's not at school. I do bring her along with me sometimes, as my friends love being around her."

"Good on you!" Mom pats my back. "And who wouldn't like being around that cute little marshmallow! As for Zack…" Mom lets out an exasperated sigh. "He's always been like that. Sometimes he gets too caught up in work that he puts more important things second to work. Make sure you slap some sense into him occasionally."

"Got it!" I give her a thumbs up.

"Anyway, do you want to know what else Zack told me?"

"What?"

"That you and your friend got may have gotten into a little incident that got you arrested." Mom's smile and general demeanor may be pleasant and happy, but her tone turns deadly.

My mom never raises her voice, even when angry. If she did that, I wouldn't be so scared of her. What really scares me is her poker face. Underneath the bubbly woman that is my mother, is the high school gang leader that everyone feared back in her day. Whenever she gets angry, she puts on a smile and lets the sound of her voice scare the living hell out of people.

"I'm still waiting for an answer Sora…" Mom looks at me as a snake would look at its lunch.

"W-Well we didn't get arrested per se…"

"Then what happened?"

"Umm, Roxas can be an idiot?" I start fiddling with my crown pendant, something that's become a nervous habit of mine.

"Oh." Mom fixes her eyes on Roxas trying to hit on some girls. "So he was the one who got you arrested?"

"It's like I said, we didn't get arrested, we were politely approached by some friendly policeman that told us to get in the back of their cruiser so they could bring us to the station for questioning!" Oh dear god why am I telling her this.

"And why did they want to question you?" Mom's eyes seem more akin to blue demonic flames.

"Because Roxas brought fake weapons to an area full of people." I'm sorry Roxas, but I like living!

Mom stands up from her seat. "I'll be back in a jiffy."

I quickly grab her hand. "Mom, no, it's okay, they just let off with a warning since everyone knows Roxas is brain dead!"

"What'd you say about me?" Roxas asks. The girls by him giggle, and then turn to leave. Roxas quickly follows them.

"Really?" The fire in mom's voice dies down. "Fine, okay. But get arrested again, and I'm going to kill you."

"I know, I know!" My heart starts to slow down a bit. Luckily for me, once my mom hears something she likes, she immediately calms down. The ironic thing is, my mom has been legitimately arrested twice because of her gang, so why is she scolding me for it? I'd love to ask her that, but if I did, she'd go on a rampage.

Time of Day: Night
Weather: Clear Skies
Place: Radiant Garden- Radiant Garden International Airport

"Oooh, I'm gonna miss you!" Mom traps me in a bear hug. She may not look like it, but the woman is strong enough to bench twice her weight.

"Mom… Can't breathe…" I sputter. She quickly lets me go, and air enters my lungs.

"Hey Sora," Dad calls. "There's something I want to tell you."

"Yeah, what is it dad?"

He fiddles with his necklace. "Listen, and don't take this the wrong way, but… You've changed. Alot."

I raise my eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"You're smiling more," He says. "You're talking more. You're more sociable. The point is… You've really changed over these past couple months."

"It's just that your father and I… We can't help but think it was our fault that you weren't this happy before," Mom says. "I mean, you didn't have any say as to why and where we were to move to, what kind of people you had to deal with, or-"

I pull both my parents into a big hug.

"Don't say that. Don't make yourselves the villains." I remove my arms from my around my parents. My mom has traces of tears in her eyes, while my dad has a sad look on his eyes. "Yeah, I was sad that we always moved around! Yeah, I hated that I was always the new kid! But I never hated you guys." I smile at the two of them. "I could never hate you two."

Dad's amber eyes meet with my sapphire ones. "Do you… Really mean that?"

I flash my dad a grin. "Yeah, I do!"

My mom pulls all of us into another hug. "I'm going to miss you."

"We'll both miss you," Dad corrects.

"I'll miss you too. I love you guys."

"We love you too," my parents say in unison. We stop hugging each other, and my parents make their way towards their gate.

I wipe any traces of tears from my eyes, and wave my parents goodbye. Once they leave my field of vision, lost in the crowds of people, I head back to where my friends are waiting.

"Everything sorted out?" Roxas asks.

I smile. "Yeah, it is." I start walking past them, and I signal them to follow me. "C'mon, let's go home!"

Okay, so this is officially one of my shortest chapters in this story so far! It only took up 8 and a half (ish) pages!

But who cares about that? It's been a month since I've updated! I'm so sorry! If you look at my updates on my profile, you'd know that I actually had a case of writer's block. I finally understand why Palette takes forever to upload chapters to her story. Writer's block fucking sucks. Hopefully it doesn't take an entire month to update, lol

Anyway, this is the last chapter of the Summer Vacation Arc! Next chapter, Sora and the Investigation Team are gonna be back in Destiny Islands! Who knows, a certain someone might have a hunch as to what these guys have been up to...