Useless (Adj)

Not fulfilling or not expected to achieve the intended purpose or desired outcome.

Synonym(s)

Futile, pointless, hopeless, bread crusts, Sora.

o.0.o

The passing days were barren and boring. As summer settled in, the painstakingly long hours of crying other's tears dwindled until the sobbing completely stopped.

Though this castle once did fall victim to the darkness, it was brought back no longer a confusing mass of oblivion, but rather a simple headquarters for the Keyblade Wielders.

Yet...

The castle was tense and no matter how much Sora tried to ignore it, he could not. Without the apprentices or the master's around it was oddly silent, you could hear the wind rattling the windows, and the cheerful crickets singing a solemn song.

Dinner alone was a pledge of loneliness.

The Keyblade Wielders were off again, saving other worlds from the catastrophe that was Xehanort. The fridge housing one of the last Honeyed walnut raisin bread, baked by Aqua before departure for Sora's light dinner.

"It's a little less sweet today?" Sora ate most of the bread. The crusts were of no importance to the meal, ABSOLUTELY useless. Just as Sora raised his hand to throw away the pointless crusts a yip caught him off guard.

Ari, a small fox kit Kairi found from one of her missions rushed out from behind the waste bin. The fox hasn't been seen in awhile, but Sora was happy the harmful weight of loneliness was lifted. He pulled Ari to his lap gifting him with the crusts. The fox yipped happily.

No longer feeling up to the task of washing, Sora placed the tin in the sink in hopes that Riku, or even Ventus would help him wash the piling dishes.

"Wanna go to my room?" Sora questioned his smile raising to an upward curve. The kit jumped down enthusiastically.

"Lead the way!"

Riku and his group were the first to return from their mission, weary and tired from the travel, Sora dutifully read unaware the group was home until he heard the rushing of tap water.

Knowing Riku would bid him goodnight Sora closed his book and waited. As if beckoned seconds later The door opened and Riku stepped out. His eyes held rings of black his body leaned against the doorway in a groggy fashion. Yet all Sora could feel was elated to have the castle filled again.

"Sora." Riku exclaimed. His voice harsher around the corners than usual,still behind the waverance in his voice was a smooth quiet tone.

"Riku! I'm happy you're back!" Sora laughed out rubbing between Ari's ears. Riku let a frustrated sigh out. Sora looked away from his friend back to the kit's joyful wide fanged grin.

"Sora you left--"

"It was a bit boring without you honestly! How was your mission?" Sora asked a bit too excited for the return of his friend.

"It was a bit tiring, but Sora you left the dishes--"

"It's okay Riku! Maybe tomorrow Aqua and her group will show up and we can all spend time together like old tim--"

"SORA!" Riku roared his eyes glinted in rage. Tired,hungry and drained all Riku wanted was some time to himself was some time to think. He just wanted Sora to shut up and clean the fucking dishes.

"Riku? Are you ok--"

"NO! You left the dishes piled up again! Did you really expect me to clear them? I just got back and I'm tired!" Sora hugged the kit closer to his chocobo shirt.

"I-I'm sorry I assumed you would help…"

"You couldn't do them? You needed my help?" Riku signed yet again crossing his arms over his chest eyes rimmed red with sleep deprivation.

"Honestly Sora you need to grow up, you're the same fourteen year old kid from when this journey first started. Except this time around you're useless and can't contribute to anything, but making messes for other people to clean up." Riku softened his demeanor realizing what he had said and how the darkness within his heart manipulated words into weapons. He reached for Sora apologetically.

"Um. It's okay! You're tired and you let your guard down. The darkness snuck up on you, I will clear the dishes tomorrow promise." Riku nodded grimly not entirely trusting himself to talk lest his words be sharpened to blades again.

"Goodnight Sora we will have breakfast together again and of course we will have fun stories to tell you." Rubbing a tentative hand through the thick mane of brown hair, Riku left uncertain of how his words affected the ever unchanged Sora.

Sora smiled turning his oil lamp off, yet his curved lips dipped so slightly at the corners. Sora did not want to be the crusts of the bread.

He didn't want to be useless.

Sora took a walk after doing the dishes. He had not idea how long he was walking or in fact where he was going, but the walk was nice. The stagnant air was dimmed with rain clouds. It seemed Spring still had a hold on this world. Flowers peeked from the trails and the world was soaked in rain water from the early morning hours.

"Sora!" A voice called excitedly. Confused Sora turned to meet the eyes of Donald and Goofy. The boy jumped into his friends arms. "Wow Sora you've grown so much!" Goofy was only hugged tighter, Donald caught in the middle sneered (as best a anthropomorphic duck could.)

"Sohwa! Let us go!" Donald quacks out. Embarrassed Sora lets his companions go.

"Sorry Donald. Where have you two been? You promised to visit and never showed up," Sora whined his eyes downcasted. The two looked shamed by their lack of visitations to The Land Of Departure.

"We were held up in a tight spot, The king is back with us though! Also Lea has shown tremendous improvement at the Keyblade!" Donald gave a frightened gasp nudging a feathered arm into Goofy's ribcage.

"OW! Whatcha you do that for Donald?" The dog complained. Donald gave an obvious gesture toward Sora who smiled politely at the two

"...Guys?"

"Sorry Sora! Do you still have…" Goofy look around before whispering behind his gloved hand. "Your condition?" Sora laughed as soon as the words filled the tensed air. Trying to prove he was not bothered proved difficult.

"You mean my Keyblade? No ever since Ven left my heart I can't summon it. They say the only reason I could summon in the first place was because of him. I guess my heart is too weak…" Tears swarmed Sora's vision.

"Sora!" They cried out in a unison. Sora found himself confused,yeah he was upset but these tears felt like they weren't exactly his. Too heavy they flowed and when he tried to blink them away or shut his eyes they flowed freely.

"Sorry! This hasn't happened lately! I'll go get something to wipe them up." Sora rushed off Donald and Goofy chimed in objection. They ran off after Sora.

Between the trees, Sora lost Goofy and Donald or rather they lost him. No longer were they rushing after him but trying to find a way out of the maze greenery. The scenery changed from the last time Sora had been out. The shrubbery had grown out of proportion and overtaken the outside of the castle.

Falling out of the line of shrubbery, Sora found himself looking at a sanctuary composed up of overgrown vines and shrubs, It made for a excellent wall of protection. In the middle laid a masked boy.

Wielding a Keyblade.