Fast Food Madness: The Epic Return V2

Roxas heard the call from Riku to Namine, but he didn't turn around. After his memories came back to him, he knew that Namine and Riku had a past. He kept walking, deciding that he would let them have their moment, whatever it consisted of. There were bigger things for him to worry about than Namine's relationship with Riku.

Riku smiled ever so slightly. "It's nice to see you again," he told the blonde girl lightly, opening his arms out to her. It had been well over a year, possibly two, since he'd seen Namine. He thought a hug suited the moment, even if he didn't give them out that much.

 

Namine smiled softly, glad to see that Riku shared the same feelings that she did. She took a step towards him and wrapped her arms around him, truly glad to see her old friend again. "It's good to see you too," she said, meaning it with all her heart. Even if she felt like he wasn't here for casual reasons, it was good to see him.

 

Riku lightly wrapped his arms around Namine, just as he did with Kairi. Hugs were rare for him, but he tried not to make it weird. He truly was glad to see her, and that she was doing well.

 

Namine felt Riku's light embrace, one that came from a dear friend. She felt her soft smile grow a little bit, glad that she had the opportunity to have this moment with him. After a few seconds, though, she pulled back, looking back up at him. "They're all waiting," she said softly. As glad as she was to see Riku, she was curious as to what was going on here.

 

Riku's smile faded as he pulled back as well, his arms coming to his sides when Namine spoke. He nodded once. "Right," he said, looking from her to the direction everybody else went off to. He motioned with his arm for the blonde girl to go on ahead of him, since he would follow right after.

 

Namine nodded slightly, turning around and walking in the direction of the living room. She went through the doorway and saw Sora and Kairi next to each other, and Roxas on a separate sofa. She wordlessly sat down next to him, wanting to be close to him because of her uncertainty. What exactly was going on?

 

Riku followed behind Namine, walking into the living room and seeing how everyone was seated. Silently, he took the seat next to Kairi, where she and Sora both sat on the bigger couch.

Kairi turned her eyes to look at her best friend, her periwinkle orbs no longer holding joy. Now they were full of worry. The guys couldn't be going away again, could they? She had been silently thinking such questions while Namine and Riku were in the other room, but now that they were with her, Sora, and Roxas, she felt things were going to take an ugly turn.

Roxas glanced at Namine, his arm behind her on the back of the couch as he sat on the loveseat. His eyes left her and went to the three friends sitting on the other couch. He wasn't sure how to start things, the air in the room heavy now that everyone was here.

 

Sora had a hold on Kairi's hand, the silence in the room heavy now. He looked from Roxas to Riku, his facial expression showing his question: Who was going to break the news to the girls? He would, if he had to, but he didn't know if either of his friends had planned on saying it or not.

 

Riku lowered his head, having seen Sora and Roxas literally sharing the same look. He supposed that since he came here to give the news to Sora and Roxas, he should give it to Kairi and Namine as well. But, would it be easier for the girls if Sora and Roxas said something instead? Riku looked to Sora and then to Roxas. His eyes seemed to say it all.

Kairi wasn't sure what the looks between the boys meant, but she wished somebody would just say something. She looked from Roxas to Sora and then Riku. "What's going on, you guys?" she asked, even though she was dreading the answer.

Roxas lifted his free hand to the back of his head, glancing at the ground as he furrowed his eyebrows. He somehow understood Riku's look, and if he wanted to say it, he could. Roxas certainly didn't know how to start it off, but he would add on any way he could.

 

Namine agreed with Kairi's question, though she didn't say anything verbally. She turned her head when she saw Roxas's movement, keeping her eyes on him as a thought from earlier entered her mind again. Was he leaving her again?

Sora exhaled a breath, looking down at the ground. I guess I'll say it, he thought, though he wasn't happy about that. "There's...another threat," he finally said, glancing up at Kairi beside him. "The three of us need to take care of it, and quickly."

 

"If we don't, it'll be bad for everyone," Riku added after Sora spoke, knowing the question that would be asked: What kind of threat? "The King sensed trouble before, but it's gotten worse. He needs the three of us to take care of it."

Kairi turned her eyes from Sora to Riku when each spoke, her eyes growing more worried at just the first few sentences. "So you're leaving again?" she asked, even though it was obvious. "Where are you going?" She feared the answer to this question, already somehow aware that it was far from here.

Roxas lowered his arm from his head and to the armrest of the couch, a frown now on his lips at the thought of the place. He looked up at Sora and Riku, wondering if it was wise to tell the girls where they were going. Then again, it would be worse to leave them in the dark about this. "...The Realm of Darkness," he answered softly, not liking the thought of the place at all.

 

Namine turned her head to look at the boy beside her instantly, her eyes widening slightly at the name of the place. She didn't know much about it, but it must have been an awful place. And the boys were going there? "...When are you going?" she asked softly, fearing the answer. It seemed obvious by the fact that they had their traveling clothes on, but she needed to hear it anyway.

Sora heard silence linger in the air for a brief moment after Namine's answer, and he decided he would be the one to break it. "Right after this," he said, shifting his gaze away from Namine to Kairi beside. He instantly tightened his grip on her hand, not liking her facial expression.

 

Kairi's eyes widened, her lips parting in surprise as she stared at Sora. "...What?" she asked, her shock coming through in her voice. She felt his grasp tighten on her hand, and she did the same with his. He was leaving today? In just a few minutes?

Roxas turned his head to gaze at the girl beside him, already knowing that her reaction to Sora's words wasn't going to be good. He tried to prepare himself for it the whole way here, but he didn't think it was possible.

Riku lowered his eyes to his lap, but then he closed his eyes. He felt guilty for seperating Sora and Kairi, and Roxas and Namine. It didn't matter how he felt though; it had to be done. That's the way it always was.

 

Namine felt Roxas's gaze on her and she instantly turned her head towards him again, her wide eyes staying on him. He was going in a few minutes? To a dangerous place. She opened her mouth partway to ask a question, but she couldn't find her voice, so she shut it again.

Sora brought over his other hand as well, using both hands to hold Kairi's now. "It won't be long," he assured her. He looked at her for a moment before he switched to Riku, needing some confirmation on that.

 

Roxas pressed his lips together, feeling terrible because of Namine's expression. His preperation hadn't done him any good. He moved his arm from the back of the couch to around her shoulders. He heard Sora's words and looked to him instantly, hoping he was right.

Kairi turned her eyes to Riku when Sora did, seeing that her best friend wasn't looking at anyone. She lifted her free hand and set it on top of his. They couldn't be gone as long as last time, could they? She really hoped not; she didn't think she could handle that again so soon.

Riku felt more than one gaze on him, and Kairi's hand. He opened his eyes and turned his head, seeing his two best friends and Roxas staring at him. "It shouldn't be more than a day or two if we do the job quickly," he said. However, he couldn't make any guarantees. Unexpected things happened a lot.

 

Namine felt Roxas's arm go around her shoulders and she instantly moved closer to him, her eyes on Riku now since he had spoken last. What Riku said was good, right? Then why was she feeling so awful? She knew the answer immediately: they never knew for sure how long it would take. Their last mission proved that.

 

Kairi lowered her gaze when Riku moved his hand to lightly hold hers then, her eyes falling to the floor directly in front of her. A day or two? That could feel like an eternity under these circumstances. And because of those circumstances, things could also change, and the boys could be gone much longer than that. For some reason she doubted that, but she could trust Riku's judgement, right?

 

Sora saw Kairi contemplating everything, and he shifted his gaze to her once again, the brunet taking away one of the hands that he had been using to hold hers. "Kai," he called softly, setting a hand on her shoulder and gently turning her to face him a little more. He had something to say to her, something he meant with all his heart.

 

Kairi felt Sora turn her more toward him, but she didn't let go of Riku's hand. Even if Sora's nickname for her made her feel warmth, she still needed her best friend's support. She lifted her eyes to Sora then, meeting his ocean-blue.

Riku could see Sora beside Kairi, and he was slightly curious as to what he was going to say to her. He kept a hold on Kairi's hand, wishing he didn't have to put either one of them through this. That went for Namine and Roxas too.

 

Sora looked into Kairi's eyes, not hesitating with what he wanted to say. "I don't know exactly what's going to happen there," he admitted softly. "But trust me, nothing is going to keep me from coming back to you." Whatever danger they faced, and no matter how long it took to defeat it, he would come back to her.