Fast Food Madness: The Epic Return V2

Riku rubbed his knuckles over Sora's head with a smirk on his face, starting to let up when he caught Kairi moving toward them. It was then that his hold on Sora released completely. "Ow!" he protested, his arm that was around Sora's neck moving across his body so he could rub the sore spot on his other arm, where Kairi had just lightly whacked him.

Kairi put her hands on her hips, looking up at her taller friend with a playful glare. "That didn't hurt, Riku," she said, smiling a little before she giggled. She always had to break up these things in the past, and felt the need to do it now. After all, they did just get done with one of the greatest evils known to man; as lighthearted as this was, she didn't want it getting too rough. It always ended up that way, somehow.

Roxas felt his small smile fade a little, the blond's eyes falling on the ground in front of him as he thought of his own best friend. Axel. He brought a hand up to rub the back of his head at the thought of him, remembering how they always used to joke around as well.

 

Sora turned around when he was free of Riku's hold, the brunet seeing Kairi playfully glaring up at his best friend. He smirked up at him, speaking without thought. "Looks like she's on my side," he said, realizing that Kairi was the reason he was now free of Riku's headlock. He wasn't surprised, though; Kairi often took his side in the past when it came to this kind of stuff.

 

Riku rolled his eyes, his hand falling back from his arm and down to his side. "Isn't she always?" he asked, his gaze finding his two best friends as he smirked again.

Kairi lowered her eyes timidly before turning her head to look at Sora. She couldn't really deny that, considering she usually was. There was good reason for that, though, she was sure.

 

"I need all the help I can get," Sora said with a slight smirk. "Since you're always picking on me." And, thanks to Riku's height advantage and strength, it was often hard for Sora to get out of a lot of the situations that he ends up in, just like the headlock.

 

Riku's smirk turned into a small smile. "Yeah, you're right about that," he joked back. He never had let up on Sora, not even on their mission together. When there was ever a break in tension, something like this seemed to happen.

 

"So it's only fair that I have a dependable ally," Sora said with a smile, glancing at Kairi before he looked back up at Riku. "It evens things out, I'd say." Between him and Kairi, they always managed some way to beat Riku at his own game. Well, maybe not always, but...

 

Riku looked to Kairi, his smile widening a little with humor. "Dependable... Right," he said, looking back to Sora. He figured out that Sora and Kairi were a couple a while ago, specifically by Sora's determination in battle. Of course, that had been the first time he'd seen Sora in almost a year, so he put two and two together and figured it out himself. It was bound to happen sometime.

Kairi lowered her sight to the floor, feeling her cheeks begin to warm at Riku's words. She bit her lip lightly as her hands clasped behind her back again. She knew what Riku was hinting at, but she didn't say anything.

 

Sora smiled when he glanced at Kairi, seeing her cheeks get a little pink. He took a step over to the side and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, gently bringing her closer to him. Riku obviously knew that they were a couple, so he didn't care if his friend saw them act like they normally did when they were together--holding hands and such.

 

Kairi lifted her head, her eyes falling on Sora's face, which was closer to hers now. She smiled slightly and moved one of her arms behind her to wrap around Sora's back, the other hand lifting to rest on his hand on her shoulders. Kairi looked up at Riku, smiling softly.

Riku tilted his head to the side slightly, smiling a little at his two friends. They finally got together, after so many obvious signs that were impossible to miss. In the past he was confused about his feelings for Kairi himself, but now he only saw her as a best friend; she and Sora were meant for each other. That was obvious.

 

Sora glanced up at Riku, the a smile still present on his lips. How could he not be happy? Riku was here, Kairi was close by his side, and Roxas and Namine were here. All of his friends were together again, and happy. "How about we head home?" he asked lightly, recalling that they were still in a place with some not-so-great memories.

 

Home... Riku wasn't sure where that was anymore, but he knew that for now, he was comfortable here. He nodded, knowing what Sora was thinking. They all needed to relax, or sleep. His chest was still on fire, but he pushed the pain away in the moments with his friends.

Kairi felt her smile grow a little, glad to see Riku agree to come with them. She wanted him to stay, even if it was for a little while longer. They had a lot to catch up on, after so long of not seeing each other.

Roxas looked over at Sora at the word "home", and he couldn't agree more about leaving. He had forgotten they were in the warehouse for the last few minutes, but now all he wanted was somewhere comfortable to rest after so much stress and battle.

 

Sora nodded back at Riku, glad this his friend wasn't going to run off right away. He hoped he would stay permanently, but he wasn't going to bring that up right now; when the time was right, he would talk to his friend about living in NYC again.

Namine was glad that Sora suggested they leave; even after a year, she still didn't like this place. Without thought, she looked over towards the other side of the room, seeing the pole that Smith had tied her to when he held her captive here.

 

Riku jerked his head to the side, motioning for Sora to lead the way out of here. This place was creepy, he had to admit. He just wanted to get somewhere that was more...cozy, like how Kairi's house had been.

Roxas's eyes turned from Sora, Riku, and Kairi to the blonde girl that still stood in front of him. They hadn't moved toward each other, his thoughts being focused on Axel and Namine's revolving around... Well, he didn't know. But he could tell by the look in her eyes that whatever she was looking at wasn't pleasing. So Roxas decided to step forward, approaching the girl he loved.

 

Sora kept Kairi under his arm, having no desire to let go of her. He started forward slowly at first, to make sure that she walked along with him. He couldn't have been more happy to leave this place; hopefully they would never come back. He had thought that about their last visit, but this time, it really did feel like a permanent farewell.

Namine's eyes softened, recalling everything that had happened that night. She remembered every vicious word Smith had spoken to her, and all the cruelness of it. But...it felt like he did that to somebody else, in a strange way. Namine was a different person back then, and she liked who she was now much better, the girl viewing herself as a stronger person than before.

 

Kairi glanced over at Sora as he started to walk, the girl moving with him automatically. Her gaze then fell forward, the girl not bothering to look back at the room that surrounded her. They were never going to see this place again.

Riku looked from his best friends to the blondes, but he immediately followed Sora and Kairi. There seemed to be something going on between Namine and Roxas that he didn't know about, and he honestly didn't want to know. Whatever the problem was, it was probably resolved now.

Roxas took a few more steps forward before stopping, looking down a little at Namine. The gang was heading out, and he didn't mind following. Surely she was the same. "Hey," he said softly, his eyes gentle as he gazed at her.

 

Namine blinked at the call, tearing her gaze away from the pole that she had been tied to before. "Mm?" she hummed, seeing softness in Roxas's eyes. She still had a lot of thoughts on her mind, but she would think about them on the walk home, or when she was by herself.

 

Roxas held out his hand to her. "Leave and never come back?" he encouraged with a small smile. He knew instantly that Namine would agree, but it seemed that she was so lost in her thoughts that she neglected to notice that Sora, Kairi, and Riku were already out of the room. It was time to go home.

 

Namine smiled softly, slipping her hand into Roxas's when he offered it to her. "Never," she agreed. They had made enough bad memories in this place; now it was time to leave and make some good ones. Whatever tomorrow held, she felt as if she were ready for it. This was a place from her past. She wouldn't allow it to haunt her anymore.

 

Roxas's lips turned up a little more, the boy securing his fingers around Namine's hand before starting to walk. He wasn't going to miss this place one bit, and the fact that they would never have to come back thrilled him. Finally. This mess was over.

 

Namine walked with Roxas, only glancing over her shoulder one time before she faced forward again. Goodbye, she thought, saying her farewell to this place, as well as to her fears. She had stood up to her worst enemy; if she had the courage to face that, then she could face anything.