*I don't own ANY of the Kingdom Hearts characters, I only own Katie.
Riku paced back and forth, waiting for Aqua, King Mickey, Ventus, and Repliku's return from their three-day search for Katie.
"You're going to make a rut in the ground if you keep pacing like that, Riku." Kairi's voice snapped Riku back into reality.
Riku looked at Kairi. "I'm just worried...Katie has been missing for too long. I just hope—"
"I know what you're getting at, she's not gonna lose herself in Darkness. She's...too stubborn." Lea smirked when he said 'stubborn'. "Besides, she sent Ventus to us a few days ago. She should be fine."
"But she sent him to us with a dark portal!" Riku exclaimed. "That is a clear sign she's losing her battle against Master Xehanort!"
Lea raised an eyebrow. "I use dark portals. I'm not with the Darkness; you worry too much man."
Riku sighed and sat down next to Lea and Kairi. He ran his fingers in his hair and sighed, "Why is this happening to her? She did nothing wrong and is from a world that is literally blocked from the Heartless and Nobodies." He heard the large oak door creak open to reveal Sora, Riku smiled. "How you feeling, buddy?"
"Like my head went through a grinder. And my chest feels like a Large Body Heartless is sitting on it, but other than that, I'm good." Sora answered. His every-present smile twisted into a pout. "What's wrong, Riku?" He walked over to his group of friends and plopped besides them.
Riku just shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose. It was Kairi that answered for him, "He's worrying about Katie...we all are. She's a good friend."
Riku shook his head, "No. It's not only that...when Ansem captured and almost took Katie, my heart went into panic. I ran to take Ansem and get Katie alone, which was stupid. I should have waited for Lea to get the others but my heart demanded me to go after her. Ever since, my feelings have...changed for her...it got in the way multiple times. I don't know what it is. It's my fault that this is happening to her."
Lea cocked his head to the side. "Why?"
"For not helping her get through this and leaving her at Merlin's..."
Sora nudged his best friend. "Oh, c'mon Riku. What's happening to Katie isn't your fault!"
"Then why do I feel so guilty?" Riku asked helplessly.
"Maybe you feel guilty because you...care for her. A lot."
Riku's face turned bright red. "O-of course I care for her! She's my friend!"
"You know what I meant..." Sora snickered.
Riku heard the wooden door creak open again to see Ventus, King Mickey, and Aqua. The group of friends stood up at their arrival. Riku looked at them with eyes filled with worry. "Any sign of her?" Riku asked.
Ventus shook his head. "No. We looked everywhere in Castle Oblivion; it was like she wasn't there at all."
"Repliku decided to stay at Castle Oblivion, in case Katie showed up. But I don't think she will return to the Castle." Aqua added.
Riku hung his head and let out a long sigh. "She's almost out of time...and we sit here like ducks!" He growled.
"Out of time?" Ventus repeated with a raised eyebrow.
Sora turned to Ventus. "Katie is marked to be Master Xehanort's thirteenth vessel. Throughout our entire journey, she has fought off sleep just so Xehanort won't take control of her. Her life is basically a ticking time bomb; slowly turning into the thirteenth vessel." He explained with a blank look on his face.
"Xehanort? He's back?" Ventus asked.
Riku nodded then ran his fingers through his hair, and let out a sigh. "Okay...so if Katie sent Ven and she was in Castle Oblivion..." His thinking-out-loud was interrupted by a dark portal forming in the center of the group. Everyone jumped back and wielded their Keyblades, ready to attack. Who came out of the portal surprised everyone.
It was Terra. He stumbled out of the portal with terror shadowing his expression. As soon as he got out of the portal completely, he rushed at the portal. "No!" Before he could go back into the portal, it vanished as quickly as it came.
"Terra!" Aqua, Ventus, and King Mickey gleefully said in unison. The group surrounded him.
Terra eyes widened when he saw Aqua and Ventus. He smiled. "Aqua, Ven!" his face quickly returned to a serious expression. "We need to get to Castle That Never Was...now." Before anyone could ask why, he rushed out the room and into Yen Sid's study. The group looked at each other then shrugged, they went after him.
Short chapter! I forgot to mention this in the last couple of chapters, this segment of the story is split into two like I did for the Realm of Darkness and Castle Oblivion. It will alternate between Mysterious Tower and Castle That Never Was for each chapter. Sorry that I forgot to mention that...^-^'
Question Time! X3
The guest Oblivion asked: "And the name Miku (Katie's Necho Cat Dream Eater) is referring to Vocaloid, right?" Yes. I am a huge fan of Vocaloid and in my own copy of KH: 3D, I had a green-blue Necho Cat that I named Miku. I thought it be cool to make a Vocaloid refrence...Go Vocaloid! ^-^
The FF member decode9 asked: "Do you plan on doing a sequel?" Yes, actually I'm planning it out right now! It is far ways off by now and I'm trying to figure out who will be—ack! I'm saying to much! Anyways, I'm ironing out the plot and which worlds they will visit...I've already picked a world and I kinda don't care that I couldn't find any way to connect it to Disney...oh well. xD
Got any more questions for me? Ask a question in a review! ^-^ I'll see y'all later!
Bless your face. And if you sneezed while reading this KH fanfic, then bless you. Peace off. BOOP!