Disclaimer: not mine

Sorry for the long wait.

Chapter 45

Riku inhaled and then coughed, covering his nose as the scent of Darkness hit him. Sora growled softly, pulling Kairi closer, eyes shimmering red even with the illusion in place. Wherever they'd been sent it was not a good place at all. They'd landed in an alley by the look of it. Riku moved silently to the end, taking in the streets and stores. "I've never sensed so much Darkness," he admitted.

"Not just Darkness," Kairi murmured, hand pressed to her Heart, "evil. There is something very evil here."

"What is there to see here?" Sora murmured warily.

Every World they were sent to had a reason behind it, either a lesson, something or someone that needed their help – Merlin had told them there would be a reason for their going, even if only for Sora or Riku to meet people like them. With Jack, Riku was pretty sure they'd been there for him, to give him hope, and maybe to get an idea what it would be like to be alone for centuries.

They weren't learning anything hanging out in an alley so they hit the streets, spotting a few people out and about. How did the people not seem to sense the evil they could? Even without magic, it should be obvious. They kept Kairi in the middle where she'd have more time to react and cast in the case of an attack. With no other ideas, they followed the other people, many of them teens as well.

A building with very loud music blaring from it seemed to be the destination, and Riku grimaced. Did they really need to go in there? His hearing would make it painful enough, but Sora's? It would be torture. Sora glanced at him, offering a smile that was more of a grimace and then they headed for the door.

"You're sure?" Kairi asked softly.

"Everyone's headed here," Sora pointed out. "We need intel and I can deal with it, I handle fighting with enhanced senses."

"if it gets too much, we'll leave and see what we can work out in the day."

"If there's day, this could be a World of never-ending night," Sora pointed out with a smirk.

"I miss when you were never ending sunshine," Riku mumbled.

He'd always known that would change as they got older, but Sora had always assumed the best, since becoming a vampire that had changed. He'd changed a lot, but he was still Sora at his core, he'd just been through a lot, he'd literally died! Riku had changed too, he hadn't died but he'd messed up so much he'd literally changed species. Even Kairi had changed, maturing as she grew, and he wondered sometimes how long she'd remain a Princess of Heart when the others had already passed on their Light.

They joined the line and Riku put a hand in his pocket, pulling out his wallet. He glanced in, seeing the Munny had been replaced by paper currency, all numbered thankfully. So, when the guy at the door asked for some, Riku handed the notes over easily. They walked inside and Riku felt dizzy…lust…hunger…

Bright Light, love…Kairi, he felt her tight grip on his hand, helping to ground him, Sora pressing closer to his other side. On a lot of Worlds, their relationship wouldn't be accepted, either him and Sora or the fact they were a trio, so if needed Kairi made the relationship to her obvious while they played up the childhood friends since nappies/might as well be family angle. They all hated it, but it was best not to make waves when not needed.

The club was mainly teens and a few adults, there was a band playing on stage and a bar to get drinks, not a bad set up, though the lighting was horrible.

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Sora fought the urge to stiffen as he realised what he was hearing…or not hearing. There were a lot more bodies than heartbeats. Could it mean…vampires? Though, Jack didn't have a heartbeat so no getting his hopes up. And with the stench of evil…they might be more like Sire than him, which would be disappointing, but not all of them could be good or bad, right? There had to be a mix. And…a heartbeat just vanished further in the building. Okay then.

"Sora?" Riku asked, always so observant.

He shifted closer fingers rubbing over the pulse in Riku's wrist, then the lack of one in his own, even though Riku and Kairi were the only two present who should be able to tell that. He didn't think there was anyone with godly blood in their veins in the building. But Riku got the point, nodding, taping Kairi's wrist to pass on the message.

"Let's get some drinks and a table," she suggested, tugging Riku towards a table.

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He watched as his two best friends danced with their partners, feeling lonely. His gaze wandered the crowd, picking out schoolmates, a few of the less dangerous demons, and vampires. His gaze moved to three new arrivals, two guys and a girl. They looking the same age as him and the gang but he didn't recognise them from school. The shorter of the two guys went to the bar and returned with three drinks though…he didn't drink it which was weird. Even vampires would drink stuff other than blood so…was he not human, something else? Or was he just not thirsty yet?

Something about the trio just didn't seem right but…oh, okay maybe that was it. He saw the two guys hands brush, out of sight of most. That was cool. It was the weekend, so maybe they were new students? Maybe there was nothing Hellmouthy at all about them?

Xander snorted. Yeah right, with their luck?

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Ventus felt exhausted which really sucked. He liked the extra stamina being half vampire gave him but in the Sleeping Worlds it didn't seem to help and he was really freaking Demyx out when he'd just fall asleep with no warning. Neither of them liked it or anything that was going on really. He hoped Aqua was having more luck than they were. These Worlds…some of them were really weird.

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Sora grinned as he watched Kairi and Riku danced together. He was pretending to sip the drink he had bought, using magic to slowly drain the glass. From the smell, he wasn't really missing anything by not drinking it.

"Hey!" A cheery voice called and Sora looked to see a teen around their age with warm brown eyes, if a little wary, and brown hair. His dress sense was interesting.

"Hi," Sora grinned at him.

"I'm Xander, haven't see you guys here before. New in town?"

"Just passing through, needed somewhere to stop for the night. Don't suppose you know a good place to stay?" he asked, they would need somewhere for Kairi and Riku to sleep after all.

"Try the Sunspot Motel, the Sunnydale Motor Inn has an…interesting reputation. Oh, I'm Xander."

"Sora, and thanks." He took the offered hand and shook, seeing Xander relax a little. Did he maybe know about those missing heartbeats? With the magic in place, Sora was human warm and would seem to have a pulse. "Anything touristy around here that we should see before moving on?"

He listened as Xander talked about the town, blinking at the number of cemeteries. Nope, not going near them, too much of a reminder of Halloween Town thank you very much.

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Naminé leant into Daichi's side, dozing lightly. They had finally moved on from the Coliseum, travelling across some of the Worlds Sora and Riku had before. Knowing Sora was helpful for making friends on those Worlds. Getting to travel and have fun but also help people was so...freeing.

TBC….

This has been sitting around for like 8 months. So, I'm posting and hoping reviews help.