Fast Food Madness: The Epic Return V2

Riku searched the area with his eyes, his sight perfectly fine in such a dark place. He turned halfway around, spotting the ship a bit away. He nodded in that general direction, the location behind Roxas. "That way. Follow me," Riku said, sending Way to Dawn away and quickly running in that direction. They had to hurry and reach the Realm of Light before Smith did, or it would be bad.

Roxas glanced in the direction Riku motioned toward, over his shoulder. He couldn't see more than fifteen feet in front of him, so he knew he would have to stay close. He summoned his blades away just as Riku reached him, the blond turning around and going after the older teen.

 

Sora's Keyblades faded out of his grasp, the brunet running to catch up to his friends. He had been the furthest away, so he was nearly at a sprint trying to catch up to Riku and Roxas. He wasn't going to get lost in this place, that was for sure.

 

Riku heard footsteps behind him and he knew that Sora and Roxas were following him. He glanced over his shoulder anyway, seeing that Roxas was only a few feet behind him while Sora was quickly catching up. He focused forward again, glad that Sora was so fast; in circumstances like this, it was convenient.

 

Sora slowed his sprint when he was closer, his chest in too much pain for him to keep up the run. It didn't matter, though, since he was about ten feet away from his other two friends. It was good enough for him, as long as he held the pace that he had, then they would be in his sight.

 

All Roxas could think about as he ran was what kind of danger Namine was in. She had no idea what was going on, and it scared him. The day she had gotten dizzy in front of him... That was Smith. He still couldn't believe it. And she had been that way ever since then? She never said anything... Roxas felt angry at himself for not noticing it and paying attention, but he knew it was no use to beat himself up now. He had to reach Namine before Smith did, or he feared something terrible would happen to her.

 

Sora looked past Roxas and Riku, seeing the ship coming into view. Thank goodness, he thought, speeding up a tiny bit out of reflex. Sora didn't know for sure where Smith was, but he had a feeling that he would be finishing right were he left off the last time he had been killed. And that was holding Namine captive while he tried to gain Kairi. This time, though, would he just take the girls while the boys were in the Realm of Darkness? The idea wasn't a pleasant one, so he tried not to dwell on it.

 

Riku saw the ship clear as day, and he was sure Roxas and Sora could see it too by the close proximity. He reached it in seconds, running up the ramp and entering the ship immediately. His pace slowed to a jog once he was inside, going around the other chairs to take his seat at the pilot's chair. Getting out of the Realm of Darkness was just as difficult as getting in, so he hoped Sora and Roxas were prepared for a bumpy ride.

Roxas glanced behind him, seeing Sora a few steps back before he turned forward and followed Riku into the ship. He could see clearly again once he was inside, the boy taking his seat in one of the chairs behind where Riku was already sitting.

 

Sora walked to the seat next to Riku's automatically, sitting down and trying to keep his breathing quiet. Besides, breathing too heavily would only increase the pain in his chest. He grunted faintly at the thought, buckling himself into the chair. Now wasn't the time to worry about that.

 

Riku started up the ship, already buckled into his seat when Sora took the seat near him. He pressed a few buttons on the control panel, one of his hands already on the steering gear. The last time he had escaped the Realm of Darkness was lucky for him, but now he knew he had to fight his way out. "Be ready for anything. This could get ugly," he warned his two comrades, reaching for the lever that would lift the ship and propel it forward.

Roxas wasn't too concerned about how they would get out, just as long as they did. He was already buckled in, so he simply watched Riku get the controls.

 

Sora nodded faintly, furrowing his brows as he looked out the front window into the Realm of Darkness. Anything was possible here, as they had all just figured out. Smith, Nathaniel and Ansem...It was still hard to believe that they had worked together to lure him and his friends here. Insane. And now, the threat was even larger, since Smith escaped the realm.

 

Riku knew that he was right when he said getting out of the Realm was going to be difficult; he had to battle countless Heartless ships and dodge debris floating around in order to get out. But when they finally did cross into the Realm of Light, he didn't hesitate heading toward Earth. It didn't take long, since he warped once they were back in the right Realm, and after parking the Gummi ship in an abandoned port, he found himself running alongside Sora and Roxas to reach the girls in time. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary at first glance, but they could never be sure.

 

Sora felt renewed strength now that he was out of the Realm of Darkness, a lot of his pain subsiding as well. Or perhaps the adrenaline was covering it up. He wasn't sure, and he didn't care. Kairi's house was further away than Namine's, but he knew that not all of them would go to Namine's. Roxas would probably keep going straight at this block up ahead, and he and Riku would make a right and head for Kairi's. And in the mean time, all he could do was hope that Smith hadn't gotten to either for the girls.

 

Roxas ran at the same pace as Sora and Riku, some of his energy returning to him. He could only pin that on the fact that he was in the Realm of Light again. His injuries didn't hurt as much, though he did neglect to use a potion while off of Earth. His shoulder still hurt, and he glanced down from the road ahead of him to his arm, seeing that there was dried blood that had trickled down from his shoulder. He hoped Namine wouldn't question it, the boy seeing the corner approaching up ahead. Roxas turned his head to glance at Sora and Riku. "I'll check on Namine. I'll call you once I get there," he said in between breaths.

Riku glanced at Roxas and nodded, knowing he was going to follow Sora to Kairi's then. He was concerned for how she was, and Namine too, but it was clear Roxas was going to handle that alone.

 

Sora nodded, Roxas confirming what he already expected would happen. He saw the corner right in front of him, so he made a right turn on that sidewalk, trusting that Riku would be right behind him. Roxas proved in the past that he could take care of Namine, so Sora wasn't concerned. Unless, of course, Smith had already gotten to her. Then things would have been completely different.

 

Roxas watched Sora and Riku turn the corner before he focused ahead, running straight. He crossed the street and reached the other side, continuing toward Namine's house.

Riku ran after Sora once they turned the corner, glad that his injuries had lifted and he could run pretty well. If he had been too hurt, this would have proved difficult.

 

Sora heard Riku behind him, so he didn't bother turning around. Thankfully, there weren't many people on the sidewalk. And if there were people, they moved to the sides long before they reached them, seeing two kids in weird clothes running towards them.

 

Roxas could only pray that Namine was alright and safe at home as he continued running. If Smith reached her before he did... He didn't even want to think about that.

Riku ignored the stares he and Sora received, only proceeding to run after his friend. He wasn't sure where Kairi even lived, so he would just follow his best friend until they arrived.

 

You're lucky, Roxas, Sora thought, continuing straight and crossing a street. By now, he was probably near Namine's home, while Sora and Riku had at least another five minute run to Kairi's. Of course, that five minutes would feel like an eternity to Sora. Was Kairi alright? Did she even know something was wrong?

 

Roxas took a turn at one of the corners, now on Namine's street. The sidewalk was empty of both people and snow, allowing him the freedom to run at a fast pace. He ran for another minute until he saw Namine's house, running across the yard and skipping the porch steps, instead jumping up to the porch and coming to a halt in front of the door. He didn't bother ringing the doorbell, his fist meeting the door instead.

 

Namine jumped slightly, having been on the couch reading a book. She turned her head in the direction of the door, confusion on her facial expression. Who was there, and why wouldn't they just ring the doorbell? She put a bookmark in the book and rose to her feet, starting towards the entrance hall.