A/N: In this chapter, I will use some final fantasy characters that you should know, but if you don't, look 'em up, k? Haha!

Also, I just have to say that Vanitas is important in this story because without him... eh... dang, I can't tell you... anyway, read on!

o.o.o

Follow Me Home

Chapter Thirty

o.o.o

"I know I let you down, but it's not like that now...
'cause I will never let you go...
I will be all that you want
I'll get myself together 'cause you keep me from falling apart...
All my life I'll be with you forever
To get you through the day and make everything okay..."

o.o.o

He was free.

Fortunately for Vanitas, the prison was not out in the middle of nowhere like most were. It was next to a major highway. However, his attire sort of gave him away, so he tried to come up with a plan. They may or may not have noticed that he was gone yet.

Vanitas had no idea how he was able to escape; it was pure luck. He was astounded at the amount of attention that fight received. He took a chance and it worked.

Now he could get his revenge.

He discarded his orange shirt so that he was only wearing a white T-shirt and the orange pants. Vanitas stood on the side of the road. Barely any cars passed by.

That's when he thought of it.

He knew that some good friends of his father lived a few miles away. If he could crash with them for a while, he would be set.

However, they were mafia members and not all of them were too fond of his father.

Vanitas was already taking plenty of risks, anyway. He didn't want to stall around for much longer, so he headed in that direction; trying to hide himself behind the trees.

'Kairi...'

For the past four months, Vanitas was obsessed with the idea of kidnapping Kairi again and making her, Roxas and Sora pay. He didn't like it when he wasn't in control. He needed to be in control. Sora completely stomped on his pride. Roxas was just a pain in the ass. They all needed to be punished, but he didn't feel like he could do it alone. If he could find the right people, they would be dead by tomorrow.

Vanitas was consumed with his own anger.

He needed a release—and fast.

His legs started to hurt; being in a cell doing nothing for so long was really taking its toll. He wished that he had some way to contact these people so that they could possibly pick him up.

It was going to be a long day.

o.o.o

Sora stood frozen in front of Kairi. He had no idea what came over him; he had been pretty reckless with her lately and it was really starting to scare him. She looked up at him—he could tell that she too was a little frightened.

"Kairi... I..."

Just then, Axel appeared in the hallway. He was dressed nicely, as if he was going somewhere.

"Oh, I didn't know you two were here." he quickly walked past them and put on his shoes. "Don't worry, I'll be out of here in a jippy." With that, he left.

"I... should go too." Sora said. "Besides... I don't want to be here when Roxas is here."

"He... left me." Kairi admitted.

"Huh?"

"Something about... his dad being sick. He went back to Twilight Town..."

"Oh... still..." Sora tried to come up with the right words to say, "...I need... more time... sorry." After a long pause, he said, "I'll be going, then."

'Don't push him...' Kairi thought to herself. It was really difficult for her to watch Sora leave, but she held it in.

Sora was a little surprised that Kairi didn't stop him. After a few moments, he opened the door and went out, slowly closing it behind him. He could hear Axel's singing voice echoing down the stairwell. After Sora assumed that Kairi wasn't going to come after him, he left the apartment. It felt like the wrong thing to do, but he chickened out.

Willingly kissing Kairi when he was sober was a little... scary for him. In a way, it seemed like he was forgiving her with that action. He was having trouble controlling himself around her.

'My feelings are too strong...'

His feelings were impairing his judgment.

'Is she really... sorry...?'

When he was living with his aunt and uncle, Sora swore to himself that he wouldn't take Kairi back. He swore to himself that he would refuse any advances, not trust her and turn the other cheek.

But seeing her—that was a different story.

And now, Roxas was out of the picture?

'I wonder if she feels sad because he left...'

Just that fact alone really confused Sora. He thought that Roxas was obsessed with Kairi.

'How could he just... leave? Did he find out about his daughter...?'

'Wait... why do... I... care?'

Sora shook his crazy thoughts away and kept walking. Suddenly, his phone went off, making him jump. It was his mother.

"Hey."

"Sora, you need to come over right now."

"What? Why...?"

"You need to see this!"

"Eh... what is it...?"

"I can't say. You just have to see. Hurry up!"

o.o.o

Kairi sat alone in the empty apartment.

'I need to figure out... something...'

She was not going to get Sora back by crying all the time.

She knew this.

'I used to be... so strong...'

'That's why he fell in love with me in the first place... isn't it?'

'I have to get better... I have to... stop... crying...'

'I've been a burden to everyone around me...'

In the midst of everything, Kairi had lost herself. She got caught up in her emotions.

She did the unthinkable... and her entire world came crashing down.

Sora was her world.

He alone was enough motivation.

'I... will... get better... for you...'

o.o.o

Vanitas arrived at an old warehouse. After carefully checking his surroundings, he went inside, only to be decked in the stomach. Vanitas fell over and was held down.

"State your name, age and what you're doing here."

"V-Vanitas Spar... 27... I'm looking... for... Auron... and Jecht..."

"Spar?"

"Y-Yeah..."

"Reno, let him in."

Vanitas lifted his head up. The guy named Reno stepped away from him. Still in pain, Vanitas stood up and saw Auron sitting in a chair smoking a cigar. The only light source came from a dimly lit one above him.

"It's Harold's boy!" another voice exclaimed. A man with scruffy, black hair came into view holding a bottle of rum.

"Jecht, what have I told you about the drinking?" Auron sighed and walked over to Vanitas. "What brings you here?" he observed the orange pants and white T-shirt.

"There... were some people that did me wrong. I need... some help..."

He was punched in the stomach once again, but this time by Auron.

"You know not to come up in here with these stupid little problems of yours! We don't do anything for free!"

"What... do you want me to do? I'll do anything!" Vanitas pleaded.

"Have some mercy on him..." Jecht laughed, "...aww, did little Vanny get in a fight?"

"S-Something like that."

Auron pondered for a moment as he wandered around the dimly lit room.

"Alright, just give us the names. We'll do this one thing for you... since we knew your father and all."

"Sora, Kairi and Roxas."

Auron gave him a sketchy look. Vanitas went on to describe their physical features; it wasn't hard for him to describe Sora.

"I want Kairi alive, no matter what. I don't care what happens to the other two."

"Sora Yamada?" Jecht inquired, rubbing his chin. "You want us to kill your own-"

"Jecht, quiet." Auron interrupted. "Fine."

"...by the way... I'm kind of... a fugitive now..." Vanitas mentioned, a little embarrassed.

"I figured as much. But you can't stay here." Auron said.

"Then... where?"

Auron glanced over at Reno, who immediately knew what he was going to say.

"Ohh no. I don't know him. He's your-"

"RENO!" Auron yelled, causing him to cower in fear.

"Y-Yes, sir! He can stay with me!"

"He will go with you to look for these people. Once you find them, you will inform us. Then we will get rid of them."

"Woohoo! This is going to be fun!" Jecht gulped down some more rum.

"Shut up, you stupid drunk."

o.o.o

Sora finally arrived at his parents house. The front door was already open, so he just walked inside. Mrs. Yamada greeted him immediately.

"Why won't you answer my calls? I need to see you or hear from you at least once a day!"

"I've been... busy..." he paused, "...so what do you want me to see?"

Mrs. Yamada gave him a nervous look. They went into the living room where the TV screen was paused. Mr. Yamada had an anxious look on his face. They pressed play.

"This just in. In Twilight Town, convicted murderer Vanitas Spar has somehow escaped from prison."

"WHAT?!" Sora yelled.

"This man is extremely dangerous. Please be on the lookout."

Sora was shocked to say the least.

'Kairi... she's in... trouble...'

"Mom, dad... thanks for showing me this... I... have to go!" Sora ran out of the house before they could even say anything.

He made it back to Namine and Riku's house twenty minutes later.

"Sora, nice to see-" Namine was cut off.

"Namine, thank you so, so much... but..."

"But what?" Riku asked, noticing the sheer terror on his best friend's face.

"...My... brother... I mean... that... guy... the one that... caused so much torture... he's... out there... somewhere... and probably looking for Kairi... I have to... go to her..."

"Sora, calm down." Riku told him.

"Your... brother?" Namine gave him a confused look.

"So it's true...?" Riku finally realized what he said as well. Sora nodded. "I thought... you were just saying a bunch of nonsense..."

"It may have sounded that way... but... gah... I can't stay here. I'm sorry... I really can't thank you two enough..."

Namine and Riku exchanged anxious looks.

"Well... if you feel like that's what you have to do..." Riku mustered, "...I can't stop you."

"T-Thanks..."

Sora hurried downstairs to pack.

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A/N: If you haven't checked out the playlist for this series in my profile yet, do so! Don't forget to leave a review =D