Fast Food Madness: The Epic Return V2

Roxas gripped the hilt of Oblivion with both hands and put the tip of his blade next to Sora's. It was then that he closed his eyes and focused, pushing all thoughts aside other than Namine. He pictured her sky-blue eyes and long hair, and her smile. Even though she was near him, he had to do this alone, and focusing on his own view of her brought warmth to his chest. Roxas focused the energy to travel through his Keyblade. He felt a slight breeze but didn't open his eyes, able to feel the power coursing through him, getting stronger and stronger as he focused on his Light.

 

Sora felt a slight wind beside him, also feeling the weight of darkness fade a little bit. It was working! He opened his eyes and stared at the ground, feeling warmth in his heart when he thought of his Light. Kairi was his reason for existence; she was the reason for his smile, and the reason for every joke he cracked and any optimism he ever showed. He lived to be with her, to please her, and to protect her. She was his Light, and he was fighting for her now.

 

Namine. That name echoed in Roxas's mind, the boy's eyes remaining closed as he felt his power pour through him and into his Keyblade. He felt the light breeze move his spikes, but he continued to focus on the girl he loved. She was the girl of his dreams, and more importantly, his destiny. He couldn't imagine where he would be without her, or if he would even be. Roxas knew that it would be too hard to survive without Namine, so he focused solely on the Light she was to him, knowing that he had to protect her.

 

Sora had always made promises to Kairi, whether it was a promise about something big or something small. And he kept every promise he told her, one way or another. She was his Light, and he would never fail her. He would fight for her, protect her, give his life if he had to. She already had his heart in her hands, after all. When he held her in his arms, he knew that she was his purpose, and that he lived for her. Right now, he was fulfilling his promise to protect her--a promise that he never hesitated to keep.

 

Kairi's blue eyes looked up, seeing the dome-like shield around them begin to glow. It's working! she thought with excitement. She wasn't sure what would happen, but with Roxas's help, the shield was getting stronger.

Namine had taught Roxas one very important thing, something a Nobody could never even dream of experiencing. Love. She'd taught him to love, and with that love, he could feel his power grow. It motivated him to keep going when things were hard. His Light did. Namine did. And it was motivating him now, the boy fighting his inner Darkness to embrace his Light.

 

Sora blinked, noticing the shield around them glow strangely. He shut his eyes at the brightness, continuing to let his energy flow through his Keyblade to keep that shield up. Whatever was happening, he felt a sudden warmth in his heart. It was like a voice calling him home.

Namine looked around at the glowing shield, seeing all its brightness. She was surprised, though, when a white light suddenly surrounded them, the light so bright that she shut her eyes and instinctively lifted an arm to shield her eyes from its radiance.

 

Roxas felt warmth impact him immediately, and he knew what was happening. The Light he and Sora were focusing on, it was growing. Even behind his eyelids he could tell that light was growing, but he kept his hands on his blade, feeding the power as he helped Sora keep the shield up. However, it seemed like much more was happening now.

Kairi brought up her arms to cover her face at the blinding light, though she was comforted at the sight. Sora and Roxas were working together, and something magical was happening.

Riku squinted at the light, lifting his free hand to try and shield his eyes. But he knew that something powerful was happening, the brightness of the light growing and swallowing the area.

 

Sora felt the light engulf him, making him feel a wave of peace unlike anything he had ever felt before. And then, the warmth began to fade from around him, the brunet suddenly feeling...different. Almost as if there were no longer a threat. He opened his eyes cautiously, though they opened fully when he noticed that his surroundings had changed.

When Namine noticed that the light was gone, she opened her eyes, lowering her arm when she took in their new location. The warehouse...in New York City?! They had escaped the Realm of Darkness!

 

Roxas suddenly heard silence, the power that had been coursing through him diminishing. He opened his eyes, which widened once he realized where they were. He turned his head, immedately recognizing the room to be one in the warehouse. They did it!

Kairi lowered her arms when something touched her heart, a feeling of peace and warmth combined. When she opened her eyes, she felt herself instantly smile. They were back home. Finally.

Riku squinted out of one eye when his senses no longer detected a threat, the boy lowering his arm away from his face as he saw his friends standing near him, and not in the Realm of Darkness. Sora and Roxas's combined powers managed to get them out safely.

 

Sora turned his head to look at Roxas, seeing his Nobody reflecting his own thoughts and emotions on his face. Sora smirked at his friend, as if to say, I told you so. Sora knew that he had his Light, and he knew that he was strong enough to save Namine. He was glad that now, Roxas knew it as well.

 

Roxas felt a gaze on him and lowered his sight to Sora standing beside him. He saw the look on his friend's face and only smiled kindly, nodding once in understanding. His own expression seemed to say, Thanks. If Sora hadn't been so forward, they might not be alive, and it all would have been Roxas's fault.

 

Sora noticed the gratitude on Roxas's face, and that was enough for him. He summoned his Keyblade away and turned around to face his three other friends, wondering exactly what was going on in their minds after their sudden escape.

 

Roxas never thought he'd be so happy to see this place again, but anything was better than the Realm of Darkness. He turned around a little as well, his grasp on Oblivion loose as his gaze darted around the people in the group. Every single expression seemed to show relief in some way, and that was a great thing to see.

Kairi looked from Riku to Sora and Roxas, having felt their gazes on her. She felt her small smile grow a little, the girl linking her hands behind her back as she nodded to them both in appreciation. They saved them, and she couldn't be more relieved.

Riku turned his head forward again when he saw Kairi's head motion, his eyes falling on the two identical pairs of eyes in front of him. He smirked slightly at their expressions, seeing how obvious it was on their faces how glad they were to be away from the Realm of Darkness.

 

Sora smiled sheepishly, seeing the expressions that Riku and Kairi held. Well, mostly Riku; the way he was smirking at them proved that he saw how glad they were to be out of the Realm of Darkness. It wasn't just that, though; Sora was glad that they were away from Smith altogether. He had caused a lot more heartache than Riku knew about, and he was glad he was gone forever.

Namine glanced at Sora, seeing his sheepish smile. She had a feeling that it was directed for either Riku or Kairi, though, so she let it go, shifting her gaze at Roxas. She smiled softly at him, not needed to force the action. She saw something different in him...a new kind of brightness. She didn't quite know how to describe it, really.

 

Roxas's eyes glanced from Kairi and Riku to the only blonde girl in the room. Namine. Oblivion disappeared from his grasp as he felt his small smile from earlier grow a little more at the sight of her. She helped him through so much, and now he felt...different. Lighter, because of her. She really was his Light. He just needed to use his inner power to fully see it.

Kairi's smile grew a little at Sora's expression, though her attention turned to Riku when she caught him moving out of the corner of her eye. She trailed him with her eyes, seeing him stepping toward Sora. She was curious as to what she was going to do, but she knew it was going to be something only a true best friend could do.

Riku stopped in front of Sora and looked down at him, his smirk still on his face. But it then turned into a small smile, the silver-haired teen expressing his thoughts. "I'm proud of you," he said, and then offered out his hand. "Thanks."

 

Sora ran a hand over the back of his head without thought, really not expecting something so flattering to come from Riku. Nor the gratitude...He lowered his hand anyway, grasping Riku's in front of him. "Thanks for what, though?" he asked, curious as he looked up at his taller friend.

 

Riku grabbed Sora's hand and then pulled him toward him, instantly wrapping his arm around his friend's neck and bringing his other hand up to rub his knuckles against his friend's head. "For not letting the Darkness get to your spiky head," Riku joked as he gave his friend a noogie, like old times.

Kairi's smile spread into a small grin at the action, the girl giggling slightly. She hadn't been so sure of what Riku was going to do, but now that she did, she couldn't help but feel like she was younger; the boys always joked like this when they were back on the Islands. She missed it; Kairi missed having her two boys together.

 

Sora's eyes widened, the brunet surprised once again by Riku's actions. First the compliment and now a headlock...Typical Riku, always breaking things up before they got too serious. "Some thanks this is!" he complained, though the grin on his lips showed that he was speaking in good humor. It had been a while since he saw Riku's goofy side, but he had always known it was there.

 

Riku only laughed, a true smile showing on his face since...well, a while. He continued to rub his knuckles over Sora's head, though he didn't do it too roughly. "Don't worry, I'll go easy on you. You're still a softy, after all," he teased, glancing at Kairi and winking before his eyes found his best friend again.

Kairi shook her head and giggled, both at how silly the boys were being and Riku's wink. She stayed where she was, a few feet away, and simply watched the scene. She hadn't seen anything like it in a while.

Roxas turned his head to see what was happening, a single chuckle leaving him at the sight. He didn't know why, but the scene made him feel happy too.

 

"Gee, thanks!" Sora said sarcastically, registering that Riku was only joking around when he called him a softy. It reminded him of a jab Smith had made earlier, but he let it go, not wanting to ruin this moment where everyone was happy. It felt good, being a whole group and laughing together again.

Namine smiled at the scene, her hands folded in front of her as she watched Sora and Riku. She had always seen the more serious side of Riku, but somehow, she had known that he joked around every once in a while. It was something nice to see, and she hoped to see it more in the future.