- Chapter 33 -

Meet the Parents

Destiny Islands

The Highwind landed on the main island, landing just outside the town.

"Okay, let's all split up." Sora said quickly. "Get our folks, meet back here."

Riku and Kairi nodded, and all three quickly split up and took off to their respective houses.

Kairi quickly made a beeline for her house. She opened the door, and was almost immediately tackled to the ground by a large black-and-white spotted Great Dane.

"Dante!" she exclaimed, laughing as he kissed her. "Hey, boy!"

It wasn't long before two people, a man and a woman in their late thirties or early forties, came along, drawn by the noise. Kairi's adoptive parents, Isaac and Talitha Mizu.

Isaac was a tall man with dirty blonde hair and brown eyes, wearing a white button-up dress shirt, black belt, tan khakis, and brown shoes, while Talitha was a pretty woman with shoulder-length black hair and hazel eyes, wearing a sleeveless pink blouse and a black skirt with gray leggings and dark pink shoes. Both stopped short at the sight of Kairi.

"Kairi?!" Isaac exclaimed, before both he and Talitha pulled Kairi up and hugged her.

"It's so good to see you!" Talitha said happily.

"I missed you both." Kairi said, pulling away. "But I wish this was a social call."

Isaac and Talitha exchanged confused glances.

"Wait..." Isaac began, "do you know about Kikyo? Is that why we're here?"

"Xehanort took her." Kairi informed them, holding up a hand at her parents' shocked expressions. "We got her back. She's safe... but you're not."

Talitha tilted her head quizzically. "What do you mean?"

"Kiki said you guys and Sora's dad saw a man in a black coat watching you." Kairi explained. "Xehanort knows where we live. He went after Kiki, and I won't let him come after you too."

"We did see him." Isaac admitted. "But Kairi, I can't just up and leave. I'm the mayor. The islands could fall into disarray."

"Dad, if Xehanort catches you, that's gonna happen anyway!" Kairi objected. "What's more important? Your job or your life?"

Talitha stepped forward at that, turning to her husband.

"Isaac, go pack." she ordered. "I'll deal with the office."

Isaac hesitated, then nodded and went back inside.

"Go help your father." Talitha told Kairi. "I'll get everything else dealt with."

Kairi nodded, and they all went to pack up.

-X-

As they packed for their trip, Isaac turned to Kairi.

"You might wanna put your rabbits in their outside hutch." he told her.

"Okay." Kairi replied. "But what're we gonna do about Dante?"

"Crap..." Isaac let out, rubbing his forehead. "I haven't thought of that."

"We could take him with us." Kairi suggested. "He's tame, and housebroken."

"I guess." Isaac admitted. "But will where we're staying accept him?"

"Yep." Kairi insisted, thinking to herself, Pretty sure Uncle Ansem won't say "no" to me.

She hoisted her backpack onto her back, and followed her father downstairs just as Talitha hung up the phone.

"The deputy mayor understands." she informed Isaac. "He's got it covered."

Isaac sighed in relief. "Thanks, honey."

"Anytime." Talitha replied before going upstairs to pack.

Riku ran up to his house, and saw a man working on a boat outside. His father, Asher Tsuchi.

Asher was a tall, well-built man with gray hair in a style similar to his son's and blue-green eyes, wearing a sleeveless green muscle shirt with yellow straps, blue jeans with large yellow X's on the calves, and blue-and-green shoes. He put down the hammer he was using on the boat, and gasped to see Riku running up.

"Dad!" Riku shouted as he reached him.

"Riku?!" Asher let out, hugging him. "It's awful... Kiki, she..."

"I know. She's safe." Riku assured. "Where's Mom? You two need to pack."

"What's going on?" Asher asked.

"Xehanort was the one behind Kiki's disappearance." Riku explained. "She said he's been spying on you, and Sora and Kairi's family. He knows where you are; it's not safe here."

"I understand." Asher said with a nod. "Your mother went to the police station to see if they had any leads. She should be back any minute now." He grabbed Riku by the shoulders. "Your sister... is she alright?"

"She's fine." Riku replied. "Our friends are watching over her at Radiant Garden."

Asher sighed in relief before going in to pack. It wasn't long before an older woman came up the path. Riku's mother, Artemis Tsuchi.

In contrast to her husband, Artemis was a small, thin woman, standing around five feet two inches (1) with long white hair and teal eyes like her younger daughter. She wore a sleeveless yellow blouse, a green neckerchief, and a white skirt with lime green shoes. She stopped, gasping at the sight of Riku.

"Riku?!" she exclaimed, before running over and hugging her. "Why are you here?"

Riku quickly explained the situation, including Kikyo's current condition.

"Thank goodness..." Artemis sighed in relief. "My baby is alright."

"But you're not safe." Riku reminded her. "Xehanort knows where we live. You need to go pack."

Artemis nodded, and the two hurried inside to pack.

Sora reached his house, throwing open the door.

"Mom?!" he called out. "Dad?!"

He didn't see them, but immediately felt something warm and furry rubbing against his leg. He looked down, seeing a little orange kitten nuzzling against him.

"Ginger..." Sora picked her up. "Have you seen my parents?"

All he got was a mew in response.

"They must be at work... I hope." he muttered to himself. "I can start packing for them. C'mon, kitty."

-X-

It wasn't long before an older man came to the house and entered. Sora's father, Levi Kumo.

Levi was a man in his late thirties with spiky brown hair and blue eyes like his son. He was tall and lean, and wore a blue sleeveless shirt with a stylized red heart on the chest and red shorts along with black sandals. He stopped short, seeing Sora packing some bags.

"Sora?" he asked, confused. Sora stopped short, turning to see him.

"Dad!" he exclaimed, running over and hugging him.

"What's going on?" Levi asked.

"We gotta leave as soon as Mom gets back." Sora said, quickly explaining everything.

Levi nodded. "I'll finish packing. Your mom's at the library."

-X-

Sora ran across town to the library, bursting in to see his mother, Marion Kumo, at the front desk.

Marion was a pretty woman about a year younger than her husband with long dirty blonde hair with a few noticeable spikes on the sides and a single bang between her blue eyes, pulled back with a light blue hairband. She wore a white tank top under a sleeveless light purple hip-length top that was worn open except at the chest, where it was held shut with a golden clasp shaped like Sora's crown pendant, as well as a beautiful red skirt with two printed rows of pink flowers on yellow vines running down the length of it on the left side, as well as two strips of pink fabric running parallel from behind the right side to her front. Finally, she wore small blue earrings, a beaded ankle bracelet around her right ankle, and dark blue sandals.

"Mom!" Sora yelled.

He was immediately shushed by a few librarians, but his mother looked up to see him.

"Sora?!" Marion said in surprise, running out from behind her desk and hugging him.

"Hey, Mom." Sora greeted, returning the hug. "Look, we need to go. Now."

He hurriedly explained the situation, and Marion nodded.

"I'll tell my boss right now." she told him, going to do so.

After everything was settled, the group met back up near the Highwind. Sora blinked in surprise to see Dante sniffing around outside the ship.

"You're bringing the dog?" he asked.

"I wasn't leaving him behind." Kairi said simply. "Now let's go."

Sora got behind the wheel, setting the backpack he had packed down beside him as Dante nosed around the ship. With that settled, they took off.

"Why..." Artemis began, "why did Xehanort take Kikyo?"

"A hostage." Kairi replied. "To get one of our friends."

"Don't worry, she's safe." Riku assured. "Another friend of ours named Zephyr rescued her."

Artemis sighed in relief. "Good."

Radiant Garden

As she ate, Kikyo perked up, realizing something.

"Oh, no." she let out in fear. "They probably think I was eaten by a shark."

Kyra raised an eyebrow. "A shark almost tore your leg off, and you're worried about them?"

"I'm not, but people usually are." Kikyo explained. "Especially since I spend all my free time on the ocean studying them."

"I'd think after you were attacked, you'd avoid them." West remarked.

"No way!" Kikyo insisted. "They're amazing creatures! I wanna be a scientist and study them..." her shoulders dropped a little, "But the people at the marine biology lab won't take me seriously. I've been thrown out by security three times." She scoffed. "One day, I'll show 'em."

"Perhaps we can help." Ansem offered. "Anything to help a scientist in the making."

"Really?" Kikyo beamed happily. "Thank you so much!"

Ienzo entered at that moment.

"My lord, Sora and the others have returned." he reported.

Ansem nodded at that. "Send them up."

On the Highwind, Kairi had just finished explaining her discovery to the others.

"So... your great uncle is the king here?" Isaac asked.

"That's right!" Kairi said

"We found out by accident when we were helping him clean and found pictures of her and her birth parents." Sora explained.

"I still don't remember anything." Kairi said. "But it's nice to know more."

"You found your biological family." Talitha smiled. "I'm so happy for you."

Kairi grinned at that. "Thanks, Mom."

With that, they docked in the castle, and disembarked the ship.

"Welcome to Radiant Garden, everybody!" Sora declared.

At that moment, Ienzo entered.

"Hello." he greeted, bowing slightly to the parents. "I'm Ienzo. If you'll follow me, I'll take you to where Kikyo is."

"Please and thank you." Asher said gratefully.

He led them to the main room, where Kikyo almost immediately jumped up at the sight of her parents.

"Mom! Dad!" she cried.

"Kikyo!" Asher exclaimed.

He and Artemis ran over, embracing her tightly.

"My baby girl..." Artemis let out happily. "Thank goodness. We were so worried."

"Are you alright?" Asher asked.

"I'm okay." Kikyo assured.

"Everyone, meet our parents." Sora told the others, gesturing to them.

"Levi Kumo." Levi said, waving. "This is my wife Marion."

"Asher Tsuchi." Asher told them. "This is Artemis."

"Thank you for taking care of our little girl." Artemis said gratefully. "Now, which one of you is Zephyr, and which is Nixe?"

"I'm Zephyr." Zephyr told them, gesturing to Nixe. "This is Nixe."

"Thank you." Asher told them. "Both of you."

"No prob." Nixe assured him.

Kairi led Isaac and Talitha over to Ansem, gesturing to them.

"Uncle Ansem, these are my parents." she introduced. "Isaac and Talitha Mizu."

Ansem smiled, shaking Isaac's hand. "So you're the ones who took in my niece. I thank you."

"You're quite welcome." Isaac replied. "She's been such a joy in our lives."

"Why did you adopt her?" Ansem asked. "Just out of curiosity."

Talitha put a hand on Kairi's shoulder. "We always wanted a child, but... I'm barren."

Ansem winced at that. "Oh... sorry."

"It's okay. You didn't know." Talitha assured him. "We're so happy to have her in our family."

"We always planned on adopting, but there weren't many orphans on the islands." Isaac added. "That is, until Sora and Riku found Kairi washed up on the beach."

"It would be those two." Lea remarked, Sï'Lea nodding in agreement.

"We did everything we could for her, and we're so happy to have found her." Talitha finished.

"I'm so happy she found people who love and care for her so much." Ansem said with a smile. "And all of you are welcome here for as long as necessary."

"Thanks." Levi told him.

"I still can't believe Xehanort would go after Riku's sister." Ven remarked. "He's upping the ante."

"He didn't do anything to you, Kikyo?" Asher questioned.

"Nothing..." Kikyo said after a slight hesitation.

"You mean other than almost starve you." Hikari pointed out.

Riku stiffened at that, turning to Kikyo.

"What?!" Artemis shrieked.

"He kept me in a cage and fed me bread and water." Kikyo reluctantly explained.

"You didn't say that before!" Riku shouted.

"I didn't want you to worry." Kikyo defended. "I'm fine."

Riku gritted his teeth, but took a deep breath to calm down.

"Kiki... I managed to grab this before we left." he told her, holding up a dark blue backpack. Kikyo's eyes lit up.

"My research!" she exclaimed, snatching it. "That guy threw it aside when he grabbed me. I'm so glad it didn't get destroyed!"

"Perhaps later, we can take a look at it." Ienzo offered.

"You'd do that for her?" Asher asked.

"Of course." Even answered. "We're always ready to help a young scientist in the making."

"My servants will show you to your rooms." Ansem informed them.

Suddenly, they hear thudding and then Dante came running into the room, tackling Kairi to the ground. Talitha sighed, rubbing her temples.

"I knew I was forgetting something." she sighed.

Kairi giggled before sitting up and turning to Ansem.

"Uncle, is it okay if my dog stays too?" she asked.

"Of course." Ansem told her. "As long as he's housebroken."

"He is." Kairi assured him. "This is Dante."

Ansem gave a small smile, scratching Dante behind the ears. The dog leaned into the touch, kicking his back leg. After a minute, he broke away and started sniffing around. Eventually, he found his way to Sora's bag, sticking his nose in... and immediately let out a yelp, darting back.

"What's wrong?!" Aqua demanded, already nervous.

They were spared the effort of an answer at the sight of a little orange kitten poking her head out of Sora's bag.

"Ginger?!" Sora exclaimed. "I thought I left you at home!"

Ginger wriggled out of the bag and mews, coming over to Sora and climbing into his lap.

"You're lucky you're cute." he said flatly, petting her.

Hikari and Nixe were immediately looming over the kitten, cooing and starstruck at her cuteness.

"You didn't tell me you had a cat!" Nixe remarked.

"She's a stray he's been taking care of." Levi explained. "She must've snuck into Sora's backpack while he wasn't looking."

"Ansem, sorry to ask... but can she stay?" Sora asked. "She's housebroken."

Ansem nodded.

"I don't mind animals." he assured them. "Well, I'd love to stay and chat, but my assistants and I have some work to do. Will you join me for dinner tonight?"

"We'd be honored." Levi told him.

Ansem descended into his laboratory, followed by Ienzo and Even.

"Now, how is our latest project going?" he asked them.

Ienzo walked over to something covered by a white sheet, pulling it off to reveal two operating tables and a strobe light-like device hanging above it in the ceiling.

"It's going along swimmingly, my Lord." Even answered. "I'm going through my Nobody's notes. We'll have vessels ready soon."

"Good to hear." Ansem remarked, closing his eyes solemnly. "Now, we atone for the sins of our past."

Author's Note:

Well, I think it's pretty obvious what their project is gonna be. But no telling. Shhhh...

All the parents are property of Kristen Verne, as are Dante and Ginger, used with her permission; with the exception of Marion, I'm using their designs from Kris' older Deviantart pics. Marion's design here is taken from a separate pic I found on Deviantart depicting Sora's mom, drawn by combatmaster. I really liked the look, so I decided to use it instead of Kristen's; everything else about Marion is in line with Kris's portrayal.

Voice cast for this chapter:

* Levi - Brian Beacock (Takato Matsuki from Digimon, Byonko from Zatch Bell!, Sakon and Ukon from Naruto)

* Marion - Dorothy Elias-Fahn (Kaoru Kamiya from Rurouni Kenshin, Naru Narusegawa from Love Hina, Kyouko Yuuki from Sword Art Online)

* Asher - Sean Schemmel (adult Goku from Dragon Ball, Strong from Fallout 4, Amidamaru from Shaman King)

* Artemis - Julie Ann Taylor (Cordelia from Fire Emblem Awakening, Emil from Nier, Mutsumi Otohime from Love Hina)

* Isaac - Michael Sinterniklaas (Leonardo from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2003, Jackal from Bravely Default, King Animus from Fairy Tail: Dragon Cry)

* Talitha - Erica Lindbeck (Cheelai from Dragon Ball Super: Broly, Farnese from Berserk 2016, Black Cat from the Spider-Man PS4 game)

Please R&R. Until next time!