Fast Food Madness: The Epic Return V2

Riku nodded slightly. Whenever Sora was ready, they would get going. He wasn't thrilled about this either, but it was a matter they had to deal with as Keyblade wielders. Whether they liked it or not, they had a responsibility to take care of.

 

About twenty minutes later, Sora and Riku were approaching Namine's home. He wasn't sure if Roxas was there yet or not, since his friend had stopped at home to get his necessary clothing. But Roxas had also gotten a head-start, so there wasn't any way he could predict if he was there or not. Well, they would find out in a minute.

 

Roxas had arrived at Namine's only two minutes ago, the boy having just taken off his jacket after a small greeting. He was in his traveling clothes, which were now completely revealed. He was sure the girls were probably wondering why he was wearing them, but he wasn't about to say anything until Sora and Riku arrived.

Kairi sat in the living room, flipping through a magazine pointlessly. She knew that somebody had just gotten here, and that it was Roxas. But she was curious as to why Sora wasn't here either. She didn't say anything, though, since he and Namine weren't in here yet.

Riku was dressed in his traveling clothes as well, having stowed a bag of his things not far from Sora's home in case something like this happened. He walked alongside Sora now, his jacket and other clothes from this world left forgotten. It wasn't like he'd be here long anyway.

 

Namine took a step back from Roxas, seeing his traveling clothes revealed. She was confused, stunned, and afraid of what this implied. "What...?" she tried, though she couldn't bring herself to complete that sentence. Was he...going away?

Sora walked up the path to Namine's home, his hands in his pockets. He didn't bother wearing a jacket over his clothing; the cold weather didn't really bother him anymore. And besides, he wasn't going to need the coat for long. Obviously Riku had the same idea, since he didn't wear a jacket either.

 

Roxas whirled around at the sound of Namine's voice, seeing the look on her face. He held his hands out, motioning for her not to panic. Obviously his clothes threw her off. "Listen, I'll explain as soon as they get here," he told her quickly.

Kairi heard Roxas's words from her spot, and she looked up in confusion. Explain? Explain what? And who was "they"? The questions caused Kairi to get up without thought, forgetting the magazine as she started toward the entryway.

Riku hadn't seen Kairi or Namine in ages, so he was wondering how they were doing. Hopefully after all they had gone through, they were alright. And he hoped it would stay that way, since he was taking their boyfriends away.

 

Sora stopped in front of the door, lifting a hand and ringing the doorbell. When that was done, he stuffed his hands in his pockets again, waiting for somebody to answer the door.

Namine was about to question what Roxas meant by "they", but then she heard the doorbell. She hesitated for a second before she took a few steps forward, pulling the door open and finding out for herself who "they" were. Sora...and Riku?

 

Perfect timing, Roxas thought silently, seeing Namine open the door and reveal the two other people he had been talking about. Somehow, he didn't think either girl would like this surprise. Roxas sensed movement behind him and turned around slightly, seeing Kairi appear at the doorway.

Kairi saw Roxas, and then his attire. Her eyes grew curious instantly, recognizing that to be his travel clothing. She then looked to the door, though she couldn't see exactly who it was because of Namine's position at the door. She figured it was Sora, though. But it looked like someone was behind him. Was that the other person Roxas had been talking about when he said "they"?

Riku stood behind and to the side of Sora slightly, though he could see just fine since he was taller. His eyes fell on Namine instantly, and her surprised expression.

 

Okay, definitely not what I was expecting, Namine thought, glancing at Roxas. She wordlessly stepped out of the way, allowing both Sora and Riku to enter her home. But they, like Roxas, both had their traveling clothes on. What was going on? And, what was Riku doing in NYC?

Sora looked at Namine briefly, seeing the surprise in her features as he stepped inside of her home. His eyes then found Kairi, who was standing on the other side of the room.

 

Roxas didn't say anything when Namine looked at him, not sure how to start this one. He looked to Sora and Riku, seeing them come in. He wasn't in the way, a few feet from them and closer to Kairi.

Kairi stepped further into the entrance hall at the sight before her. Sora... He was in his traveling clothes too? And then, the person behind him walked inside the house and she thought she was dreaming when she recognized the silver hair. "...Riku?" she called in question. Was that really him?

Riku looked up once he was inside and out of the way of the door, his eyes finding the redhead just beyond Roxas. His childhood friend stood not too far away, obvious shock on her face. He waved lightly at her, a very faint smile appearing on his face at the sight of her. It really had been a while since he'd seen either of the girls.

 

Namine shut the door, though her eyes were glued to Riku when Kairi spoke the name. Alright, so I'm not hallucinating, she thought, relieved at that. But...Riku was really in her home, then? She was glad to see that he was alright, despite the fact that she was confused about his presence. He had saved her once, when DiZ had wanted her terminated. She was thankful that he didn't follow the order, and ever since then, she considered him a friend.

Sora stepped out of the way, leaning against the wall as he observed what was going on here. Clearly both the girls were stunned by this, though maybe Namine was a little bit more, since she had time to process that Roxas was wearing his traveling clothes.

 

Roxas glanced back at Kairi, seeing her looking in the other direction toward Riku. Obviously it had been a while since she'd seen him.

The shock in Kairi's eyes was still there, but happiness slowly appeared as well. A smile started to grow on her lips as she moved forward quickly, going past Roxas and Sora and giving Riku a tight hug. She hadn't seen him in what felt like forever.

Riku looked down when he was suddenly embraced, surprised at the movement. Regardless, he lowered his arms and lightly hugged Kairi back. "Hey, Kairi. How've you been?" he asked, looking down at her before she pulled away.

"Good. How about you?" Kairi asked, temporarily dismissing the fact that all three boys were in their battle attire. Right now, she was just happy to see her best friend.

Riku shrugged slightly. "I'm alright," he admitted. Things have been better for him, but what was coming up for all of them surely wasn't going to make him feel any better.

 

Namine lifted a hand and tucked back a strand of hair, trying to forget about shock and enjoy seeing her friend here. "It's been a while," she finally said, her voice sounding a little softer than usual as she gazed at Riku and Kairi from a side-view. She sort of felt like she wanted to hug Riku, since he was a friend she hadn't seen in a while, but at the same time, she wasn't sure if it would be awkward or not.

 

Riku turned his eyes away from Kairi at the soft voice, his sight falling on Namine. He briefly thought of the last time he had truly seen her, back in Twilight Town after Castle Oblivion. She appeared stronger than that time, though she had always had some strength within her, even then. He nodded slightly at her words, looking past his silver bangs to her. "You doing okay?" he asked her, though he didn't suspect anything but the best. Roxas obviously cared a lot for her, and even if he and Riku had some differences, he could see that she was being treated well.

 

Namine nodded faintly at the question, her eyes finding the pair that she hadn't seen in what felt like an eternity. "Yeah, I'm doing okay," she said. She was especially better now that Sora and Roxas were home, and their lives were normal. She feared that Riku was going to change that, but she wouldn't let that spoil her reuniting with an old friend.

 

Riku nodded slightly. "Good," he said, then turning his eyes to Roxas. He approved of Roxas's treatment toward the girl, though he was sure Roxas thought he didn't need Riku's approval. Even if the Nobody had problems before, he clearly didn't let it ruin his relationship.

During Riku and Namine's small conversation, Kairi looked at his outfit and Sora's. So she hadn't been dreaming... They were both dressed to fight. "...You guys," she started quietly, at the same time turning to look back at Roxas. He was dressed just like them, like she had noticed earlier. She then turned her eyes to Sora and Riku again. "Why are you dressed like that?" Her voice was soft due to her shock returning, her joy from seeing Riku slowly fading away.

Roxas looked from Kairi to Namine, and then to Sora and Riku. "We should all talk," he suggested, thinking of everyone gathering in the living room, where there was enough room for all five of them. The girls needed to know what was going on.

 

Sora nodded, seeing Roxas looking to him. "And we should sit down," he added. He could tell that Kairi was starting to feel the shock that had initially kept Namine from speaking, and he didn't want to risk either of them feeling faint from the news.

 

Roxas nodded slightly and moved his sight to Namine. He was going to hate this next conversation, but they all had to do it.

Kairi's eyes gazed at Sora, and she nodded slightly. "Okay," she replied softly. She glanced up at Riku and then turned around, her sight falling on Roxas as she silently started for the living room, where all of them could sit down.

Riku watched Kairi go and then turned his eyes to Sora. He knew this wasn't going to be easy, for any of them.

 

Sora glanced at Riku before he turned his gaze towards the doorway, the brunet walking in the direction that Kairi had gone in. This conversation needed to be done, and the sooner the better. There was a threat out there that needed to be taken care of.

Namine started forward, seeing that Sora and Kairi already had started towards the living room. She was the furthest away, though, since she had opened the door. She walked past Riku a step, glancing at him as she passed him.

 

Roxas glanced at Namine, and seeing that she was coming, started for the living room himself. He wasn't that far from the doorway, anyway.

Riku met Namine's gaze for just a second, and he felt he needed to say something. "Namine," he called softly. He hadn't seen her a little while longer than he hadn't seen Kairi, so he had to admit that, even if things were under strange circumstances between them in the past, it was good to see that she was doing well.

 

Namine stopped when Riku called, the girl turning around at the voice. "Mm?" she hummed automatically, looking up at Riku's taller height. She caught the look in his aquamarine eyes, though she didn't know what exactly it meant.