Almost the end of a year. Wow.

Hopefully, KH4 next year!

Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy © to Disney and Square Enix!

Kraig and TJ © to YamiChaos27!

Iunia and Nico and other OCs © to me!

Joy © to Njoy!

Akira © to Lucywind!

Chapter 14: Support

"How are things going?" Jiminy took a drink from a small teacup he'd brought himself.

Axel smiled at the cricket. "It's going alright. The kids are doing alright, but we know there's a lot they're going through. That's why we called you."

"Where are they?"

Isa took a sip of his own tea. "Roxas is out Hayner and some of the others. There's a punk in town that basically has started a rivalry with Roxas after Roxas kicked his butt, so I think they're duking it out at the sandlot. Xion is with her new friends Akira and Joy; I think they're out at the terrace hanging out together."

"So, they've made lot of friends?"

"A few. Roxas's showing in the Struggle tournament made him pretty popul- KOSHO NO!"

Jiminy hopped up onto a higher table as the dog came over, trying to chase the little cricket. Isa grabbed his collar. "Sorry about that."

"Not a problem." Jiminy laughed as he sat up higher. "I've been face to face with Heartless. A dog is nothing. I'll just sit up here."

Kosho walked up to the table where Jiminy sat, looking up at his new friend, tail wagging.

"So, Roxas is popular?"

"Yeah, and there's even a kid that sometimes follows Roxas around. What was his name again… Caden. Actually, Caden is probably there watching Seifer and Roxas fight today."

"That's good. What about Xion?"

"She's doing alright. She's had a bit more difficulty than Roxas. They both need some help though."

Jiminy leaned forward. "And how are you two? This isn't the easiest thing. You're practically single parents, and that's a difficulty task."

Axel nodded. "I guess we could use some help too. We could always use a little support. Thanks again for doing this."

"It's not a problem." The cricket smiled. "I'm happy to help. I'll be staying at my new place in town. Mr. McDuck made sure there's an office attached. Let me know when you four are individually available, and I'll make a schedule."

"Sounds good. Need some help getting home?"

"Not at all. I'll be fine." He stood up, tipping his hat down at Kosho. "Now if you'll excuse me, sir."

With a hop, he leapt off, bouncing off the dog's back and onto the floor. Kosho, tail still wagging, followed the cricket, sniffing his new friend.

"See you soon!"

"See ya!"

Hopefully, this would be helpful for them all.

But, he wasn't the only support they had.

The week before school started, Principal Maddie sat down in the school conference room. Vice Principal John Lucius, and across the table, sat some of the high school teachers.

Mr. Isaac Wright.

Miss Astrid Bram.

Mr. Carl Jericho.

Miss Jackie Roger.

Miss Raleigh Burton.

Mrs. Etta Lou.

Mrs. Jessie Raspberry.

Mrs. Folia Jones.

"What's up, bosses?" Jackie smiled, glancing over at her boyfriend, the vice principal.

Jessie sighed. "Is this about the two new students?"

"It is." Maddie looked down at two files. "Roxas Mills and Xion Leingot. I've been talking to their guardians, and they have some concerns, and that's why I asked all of you to come here." Her gaze softened. "You all will see them more than I do, so we wanted to talk to you before classes started."

John nodded. "They're good kids. We met them, and I know some of you have as well."

"However, we have been informed that they are both very special cases. Both of them have very little social experience. Roxas has a little more than Xion, but not by much. Neither of them have been to school ever. And according to their guardians, both have endured physical and psychological trauma."

"Trauma? Poor kids."

"Just physical and psychological, not…"

"Just those. Not the other one." Maddie nodded. "You all will see them more than us, and you will be the one to notice if and when things are going wrong. We wanted to give you all a heads-up, so you can watch over them and assist when necessary. Now, they didn't tell us all the details, but we know they've been manipulated by adults and forced to hurt people. We know Roxas had his normal life torn away from him about a year ago, and that Xion had some issues with medical personnel, so we've informed the nurse to be very calm with her. And Isaac, you have Xion for biology."

The teacher sighed. "Does she want to be in my class? If it will be difficult for her, maybe chemistry would be better, or maybe something else."

"She wanted to. She and Roxas want a normal life, as much as we can give them."

"Then we keep an eye on them."

"We'll give them as normal a life as we can. And if we see anything, we will help as best we can."

"Absolutely."

"Hi there, Xion."

"Hi, Jiminy." The girl gently closed the door to the new office. She looked around.

It was small, with only a small couch and table. On the table sat a tiny armchair with a tiny table beside it.

She saw a large door, slightly open, that seemed to lead into a bathroom. A smaller door stood above a table. Probably the entrance to a Jiminy-sized portion of the house.

Jiminy himself stood by that door, holding a notebook in his hands as he hopped to the coffee table. "You ready, Xion?"

"I guess so." She sat down, looking at a tray of cookies on a plate. He must have asked someone to help set them up. "So, what do I do?"

Jiminy sat down in his little chair, taking out a tiny pen for his notebook. "We just talk right now. I want to hear how you're feeling, how things are going, any problems you're having. I know you were having nightmares. Are they still happening?"

"Yes… most nights, but I'm able to get back to sleep now."

"Nightmares about your time in the Organization?"

"Yes."

"How do you get back to sleep?"

The girl's arms moved, as if hugging something subconsciously, but feeling nothing, she quickly glanced around. "I-I have a nightlight from Isa. And my bear and turtle."

"Your bear and turtle?"

"Stella and Shelly. My stuffed animals."

Jiminy paused for a moment. "Well, next time, if you want to, bring one of them with you. I think they help you stay calm. Right?"

"Yeah, they do."

"Bring whatever you need to help you stay calm, and maybe I'll get a stuffed animal to keep here if you don't want to carry one of yours."

The girl grabbed a pillow and hugged it. "Can I name it?"

"Sure."

The nightmares were definitely something to talk about. They'd probably need a number of sessions to really go through them and figure out strategies to deal with them, and hopefully, Xion would grow out of them eventually.

"And how is school? Do you like your classes?"

Xion perked up. "The teachers are really nice, and my friends are wonderful. But… there are four girls who might try and hurt me."

"I heard there were some bullies."

"My friends said they'd keep me safe, but I see them all the times. And Leblanc is in the Drama club with me."

Drama club?

Interesting choice.

"Why drama?"

"Well…"

Jiminy tossed a few small twigs onto the tiny fire in his little fireplace. To someone not his size, it would look like a dollhouse. But everything worked.

The kitchen.

The bathroom.

Even the computer-sized version of the gummi phone in his little office that led to the larger office front he now had.

After Sora vanished, the little cricket wasn't sure what he could do to help.

But then Axel and Isa called for him.

And he knew.

He was a conscious, and that was his job.

His job was to help everyone.

So, he had the gummi phone made special to help.

Looking at the little calendar on the wall, he made a plan. With everyone out looking for Sora, they needed help themselves.

He'd see Xion on Sundays, Roxas on Mondays, Axel on Saturday, and Isa on Thursday.

Once a week on Tuesdays, he'd give Riku a call to check in, and maybe call him into the office if needed.

He'd check in with Terra and Ven on Wednesday. And he'd check on Wednesday and Friday with Aqua since she was in the Realm of Darkness once again and could probably use some more check-ins.

Saturday mornings, he would check with Donald and Goofy.

Sunday evenings, he would call King Mickey.

Friday mornings he'd call Naminé and check on her.

Not an easy job, but someone needed to support these kids.

He really wished Kairi was conscious and he could talk with her, but she made her choice to go to sleep.

He only hoped Sora was doing alright.

And that he had someone to support him wherever he was.

This is a shorter chapter, but it's ok.

Also, would you guys be interested in a few chapters dedicated to the others or even a spin-off story about some of them?