Remember, next week will be my last update until November.
Hope you all enjoy!
Kingdom Hearts © to Disney and Square Enix!
My OCs © to me!
Chapter 5: Destiny
Where did-
Kairi slipped off the tree, her feet hitting the ground-
Before her knees buckled and she dropped.
Riku tore across the beach, leaping up onto the bridge with a single leap. Axel followed right behind him.
Then everyone followed.
Axel reached Kairi right after Riku.
The girl knelt, her body shaking as she clutched something to her chest.
A moment later, she let out a long wail as tears fell down her cheeks.
"Sora… Sora…"
Taking off his vest, Axel knelt beside her, draping it across her shoulders.
Riku knelt in front of her as Aqua came around the other side, pulling the girl into a hug.
"Kairi."
Ven glanced around. "What just happened?"
"I don't know…"
They stood there for who knows how long as Kairi sobbed.
Things seemed so perfect not one hour before.
Eventually, Kairi cried herself out. Her gaze caught the faces of everyone, even those unfamiliar.
"You're… all here."
"Yeah, we are."
Hopping onto her knee, Jiminy took off his hat. "Kairi, I know this can't be easy for you, but do you know what happened?"
Slowly, she nodded. "He told me… he told me what would happen." The object in her hands, she clutched it close to her heart. "Sora, he… he said he broke a nature taboo in bringing me back."
"A nature taboo?"
Aqua's face paled as she looked up at the others. "A law of the universe and reality itself."
Oh-
Oh no.
"He said he'd have to pay a price for doing so." Kairi's shoulders began to shake once more. "He said- he said he'd vanish, and lose his power of waking. So, he could not come back. He… he's gone… he's gone!"
Her eyes let loose another torrent of tears.
Gone?
Aqua glanced up at Terra.
Terra felt his heart break. He'd seen his master die before his eyes, but for Kairi to lose Sora like that… the pain must be unbearable.
"He can't just be gone!" Ven shouted. "We've got to do something, right? Sora helped all of us! We have to find him!"
Kairi glanced up at those words.
"Ven's right!" Axel nodded. "There's got to be something we can do. Screw this nature taboo business. All of us didn't go through all that pain and mess with Xehanort just to lose a friend."
"Especially since he helped pretty much all of us get back!"
Mickey nodded, his gaze hardened. "You're right. I'll go find Master Yen Sid and Ansem the Wise. We can try and figure something out!"
"I'll come too." Kairi gasped. "I have to help! This is my fault after all."
"It's not your fault!" Isa looked down at her, meeting her gaze. "Xehanort wanted this. It was his fault."
"Did you know?"
"No." Isa looked down. "I did know that one plan was possibly to remove Kairi from the picture, but I didn't know why. This had to be the reason. But we can undo what Xehanort planned. Sora did."
"Yeah."
Riku glanced past Kairi. "Kairi, you need to rest…" She followed his gaze to the main island. "I-I told them you and Sora would be coming back soon."
Who?
The girl closed her eyes. "But Sora-"
"I'll tell them the truth, but your parents are worried, Kairi. You should at least go home and rest for a little bit."
Home…
Oh, they had family waiting for them.
Aqua looked up at Riku. "You're going to tell Sora's parents what happened?"
"I have to… since we weren't exactly truthful of the stakes of this. We downplayed how serious the situation was because we didn't want them to worry. But they need to know what happened."
"Then we should all go." Aqua stood up, helping Kairi to her feet. "Sora's family will be distraught, but it might give them some comfort to see how many people are here to help and willing to find Sora."
Jiminy nodded. "I think Aqua's right."
"Then let's all go."
"Yeah."
Ven pointed to the main island. "We can get everyone over there without a problem."
"How?"
Ven moved away before summoning his Keyblade. Throwing it into the air, it changed into his glider in a flash.
There were a few gasps.
Did… no one know how to do this? It was kinda basic stuff.
Aqua and Terra summoned theirs.
Together, they ferried people to the main island a few at a time. To a small, quiet town sitting at the base of a volcano.
"This is your home?"
"Yeah."
Riku led everyone down the small streets. Kairi still stood beside Aqua, the older girl keeping a comforting hand on her shoulder.
They didn't have to go far before they reached a small house with a single room on the second floor.
Sora's house.
Riku knocked.
No answer.
He knocked again.
Still nothing.
"Riku?"
They saw a teenage boy with orange hair, wrapped with a blue bandana, looking over. Riku smiled softly. "Hey, Wakka."
"Where ya been? And who are all these people?"
"Long story. Hey… have you seen Mr. and Mrs. Irino?"
"Yeah." He glanced over at Kairi, his gaze taking on a questioning air as he saw her tear-stained face. "They're up at the mayor's house. Apparently, your dad challenged Mr. Uchida and Mrs. Irino to a cooking challenge or something."
Riku sighed, but a slight smile crossed his face. "Sounds about right. Thanks."
"Everything ok?"
"Not really… but it's a long story. Thanks."
"No problem."
Riku continued to lead the way.
The sleepy little town around them certainly noticed the strange bunch of people all walking together. And a few obviously noticed Kairi's state, one particular person wearing a doctor's coat especially.
But they didn't say anything.
Coming up to a much larger house, Riku glanced back at Kairi. "You ok?"
"No."
"I know." Taking a deep breath, Riku knocked on the door.
"One minute!" A man threw open the door. His green eyes shining under chocolate-cherry colored hair; flour covered the apron he wore over his clothes. "Riku! Hey!" The man looked around at everyone. "Wow! Everyone we have gue-" His eyes landed on Kairi. "Kairi!?"
The girl looked up, eyes still teary. "Dad!"
Pushing past Riku, the man pulled her into a hug. "You're back!"
A female voice called from further in the house. "Tai(1)! Did you say Kairi!?"
"Kairi's home!" Tai looked at everyone. "Come inside, please."
"Thank you."
They walked inside the house. Photographs hung on the walls of Kairi. Some also contained Sora and Kairi at different ages.
As they entered a larger room, they saw two women and another man sitting on couches. In a nearby kitchen, also covered in flour, stood a woman and man.
"Kairi!" A woman with strawberry-blonde hair and onyx eyes jumped up, wrapping her arms around the girl.
"Mom…"
"Wow! That's a lot of guests!" Called the man in the kitchen; it took merely a glance to tell who he was with his silver hair and blue-green eyes. "Riku!"
"Hi, Dad."
The man wiped off his hands. "Hi everyone! I'm Riku's dad! Name's Mamoru Miyano." He pointed to a woman with platinum blonde hair and pink eyes behind large round glasses. "This is my lovely wife, Akiko(2)."
"Riku!" Akiko stood up and hugged her son. "We missed you."
Kairi's mom looked over at everyone, but she continued to glance at her clearly distraught daughter. "Nice to meet all of you. I'm Risa Uchida(3), and this is my husband, Tai."
A man with short, spikey brown hair and bright purple eyes stood up. "Hi. I'm Miyu Irino, and," he pointed to a woman with mousy brown hair and blue eyes standing in the kitchen, "that's my wife Yoko(4)." He looked around the group. "Um… where's my son? I thought he'd be with you all."
Sora's dad.
No one spoke.
The parents all paused.
Yoko spoke first. "Where is he? Where is Sora?"
Kairi choked back tears. "He… he's g-"
"He's missing."
Riku averted his eyes. "He was here, but he vanished."
"Vanished?"
"What do you mean by vanished!?" Yoko stepped closer. "Where is my son!?"
Kairi began to shake. "I'm so sorry… I'm so sorry! We don't know where he is."
Aqua stepped forward. "Ms. Yoko, Mr. Miyu, please… we all came to tell you that we will be looking for him. All of us."
"All of you?" Miyu glared at Riku. "What happened!? You said this wasn't that serious?"
"We… didn't exactly tell you everything."
"What!?"
Akiko's face paled as she looked at her son. "Tell us everything! Right now!"
Glancing back at the others, Riku sighed. "Yeah, we will."
The parents listened silently as Riku explained everything.
He really had downplayed the situation to keep them from worrying.
But that backfired now.
"You died…"
Kairi nodded slowly. "And Sora brought me back, but to do so, he broke a nature taboo."
"A law of reality." Aqua gently explained. "And breaking one comes… with a price."
Miyu's hands clenched. "Our son… is gone…"
"We don't know where he is, and Kairi said he lost the power to return." Mickey looked down. "But we will find him. We promise."
Ven nodded. "Your son is a hero. He protected my heart for over ten years."
"He pulled me from the abyss of darkness." Aqua placed a hand on her hear, remembering Sora calling her name and reaching for her.
"He helped free me." Terra recalled Sora's voice as he finally found freedom after so long.
"He did everything he could to bring me back."
"Understand," Jiminy said gently, "your son has done so much for all of us, and we will do whatever we can to bring him back safely."
Yoko wiped her eyes. "A hero?"
"Your son saved our universe." Aqua said gently. "He fought Xehanort and defeated him. The worlds owe him a great debt. And," she looked over at Kairi, "he sacrificed himself for you."
"Yes."
Yoko took her husband's hand. "That… sounds like him. He's always been selfless."
Ven's heart broke as he saw the faces of Sora's parents. Full of the pain of not knowing.
Never again.
"Here." He pulled out his gummi phone. "Take this. It's a gummi phone. We can call you on it from any world. When we find out where he is, we will tell you."
He could get another one from Mickey.
Sora's parents took the phone.
"Thank you."
Risa looked at her daughter. "You're staying here, right?"
"For a little while, but I have to go. I have to find him. I have to."
Her parents glanced between one another, but didn't say anything.
"Riku?"
"I'm going too." He sighed.
His dad sighed. "I'll allow it if you promise something."
"What?"
"No more secrets! Tell us everything straight. I know you wanted to keep us from worrying, but that ship has sailed."
Riku nodded. "I promise."
"We all do."
"Thank you."
Mickey stood up. "I'm going to go now and ask Master Yen Sid and Ansem about this. Kairi, if you want to come, I'll come back and get you in a few days. Rest."
"Ok."
Terra looked at Aqua. "We might have some information in our library back home."
"And we can search the computer." Pence offered.
"Yeah."
Miyu stood up, holding the phone. "Then… you should probably go. I think we need some time."
"Of course. And if you need to talk, or just want updates, please call any of us. Please."
"Alright."
Aqua looked back to see Sora's parents stop and talk to Roxas. She couldn't imagine what they felt right now.
They would bring Sora home.
They had to.
"Aqua, you're not serious?"
"It's the best place to start searching."
"But you just spent YEARS stuck there."
The young woman sighed. She didn't like it either, but it made sense to search the Realm of Darkness. And no one knew it better than her.
"I know, but this time I won't be alone. I'll have you two."
Terra took her hand. "And we don't have to stay there the whole time. We can do it a little at a time."
"And we'll be together."
"Exactly."
Aqua nodded, feeling the love from her two friends.
It would take some preparation to be ready for this trip. They could possibly leave in the next few days.
She stood up without a word, running through a list of things she'd want to have with her for this trip.
Terra watched as Ven sat with Chirithy, setting up the new phone Mickey was able to get him since he gave his to Sora's parents, and he too took out his phone and sent a message to Riku.
'Come to the Land of Departure. I'd like to talk to you.'
This would be a test for the young master.
This world wasn't exactly the easiest to find or reach if you didn't know how to get here, so it would show Terra how resourceful Riku had become. This was a test Eraqus gave him and Aqua once.
He left them on a world and told them to get home.
If they couldn't, he'd go get them in a little bit.
Both of them failed the test the first time, but maybe Riku would pass with flying colors.
And he did.
The day the three were set to leave, Terra heard the front doors open.
As he stood in the main throne room, Riku came up the stairs.
He was resourceful alright.
The two shared a silent word of greeting as Riku stood before him.
"Well," Terra smiled, wondering if this was how Eraqus felt when congratulating him, Aqua, or Ven, "look at you."
Riku smiled back. "Thanks. I finally fulfilled my promise to you."
"You did. Now there's nothing left for me to teach you." He kind of wished there was. He'd planned long ago to come back and take Riku as an apprentice one day, but that didn't happen. "You're a true Keyblade Master," his feet carried him toward the younger man, "not to mention a great leader to those around you. You've even found the strength to save your friends."
Riku shook his head. "It's not enough."
With a slight chuckle, Terra shrugged and put his hands on the boy's shoulders.
They really were a lot alike.
"The very fact that you were able to make your way here proves just how strong you are. That is why I called for you."
The boy's eyebrows raised in confusion. "That's… the reason?"
"You expected more?"
"Yes!"
The two of them chuckled, before devolving into full laughter.
"Hey you two!" Ven came running over as he and Aqua came up the stairs, ready to leave. "What's so funny?"
"It's a secret."
"Aww, come on, tell me!"
Terra laughed as Ven chased him toward the thrones.
Stepping up beside Riku, Aqua sighed. She felt the boy's eyes move to her, a concerned look in his gaze. "Are you sure about this?"
"Yes," looking at him, she gave him a warm smile, "but don't worry. I'm not alone this time."
Stepping up, the three of them summoned a portal to the Realm of Darkness and activated their armor.
Terra almost laughed again at Riku's shocked expression.
They really needed to teach these guys how to summon armor and gliders.
Turning his back, he stepped through the portal with Aqua and Ven, leaving behind their castle, with Chirithy to watch over it for the time being.
And when they exited, it was into a dark and dismal landscape.
"We're here…" Aqua whispered. "This is the Realm of Darkness…"
Footnotes:
(1) Kairi's dad is named for Tai Yasue.
(2) Riku's dad is named for Riku's Japanese VA, and Akiko is named for the writer who was just added in KH4, Akiko Ishibashi.
(3) Risa is the name of Kairi's Japanese VA.
(4) Miyu is the name for Sora's Japanese VA, and Yoko is named for Yoko Shimomura.
VAs:
Tai Uchida- Sonny Strait (Maes Hughes, Korosensei, Usopp, Arsene Lupin III, Present Mic)
Mamoru Miyano- Micah Solusod (Riku, Best Jeanist, Ame, Midnight, Akito Hyuga)
Akiko Miyano- April Stewart (Izumi, Raava, Empress Jessamina Kaldwin, Christie, Aphrodite)
Risa Uchida- Kate Oxley (Fuyumi Todoroki, Misaki Kirihara, Mai Otsuka, Detective Simone)
Miyu Irino- Scott Porter (Cyclops/Scott Summers, Star-Lord, Harry Osborn, Nightwing/Dick Grayson)
Yoko Irino- Kath Soucie (Sora's Mom, Maketh Tua, Mera, Maddie Fenton, Vivi Ornitier)