Fast Food Madness: The Epic Return V2

Riku kept his eyes on Leon, curious as to what was going to be said next, but he got the vibe that he wasn't involved in the conversation. Instead, he crossed his arms and lowered his sight to the ground, retreating to his thoughts. He needed to confront the King not only on the Heartless, but also Ansem the Wise. His computer gave him some information, but he still felt there was some stuff missing. He felt the King would know.

 

"It involves Kairi," Leon said, a little cautious when he noticed Sora stiffen. Nevertheless, he continued. "You've told me you've had your fair share of troubles protecting her, and how you've nearly been killed in the process."

Sora clenched his hands into tight fists, staring at Leon as he listened. Yes, he had gone through many times where he had to protect Kairi. Yes, he had nearly gotten killed once or twice. But what was Leon getting at?

"We would like to offer both of you the chance to put those days behind you," Leon continued. "You wouldn't have to protect Kairi anymore; she would live here, at Hollow Bastion. I would be in charge of her protection, but I would have help from everyone else as well." He saw the look in Sora's eye, and he felt the need to elaborate. "Not because you've failed in any way; but because she's a Princess. Surely you see how important it is that we don't take any chances with her."

Sora nodded absently, the logic making him understand it. Kairi did get into trouble because of her title, but he had always been able to protect her. However, would she be safer if she were with Leon? Would she go through less pain if she had more protectors?

 

Riku heard the conversation, but didn't really pay attention, regardless of the fact that it involved his two best friends. There was still a lot he didn't know about Nobodies and the Heartless, even if he had been fighting them for a long time. The King had more experience, so perhaps he would know of certain subjects Riku was unclear of.

 

"Ultimately, it's up to Kairi," Leon said, looking at the brunet a few feet away. "But you have a say in it too; if you feel you can't protect her any longer, then she would have to come to Hollow Bastion."

"I'll talk to her about it when I have a chance to," Sora said with a nod. He knew that he wouldn't have a problem protecting her in the future, especially because of his new-found strength. But if Kairi wanted to live in Hollow Bastion for some reason, then he wouldn't stop her.

Leon nodded, glad that Sora wasn't getting worked up over the person he loved. Sora had really matured in the past few months, and it showed. "You should head home as soon as possible," he said, changing the subject. "You've been away for four months; you shouldn't stay away any longer.

 

Riku's thoughts drifted off through the last part of Sora and Leon's conversation, so he caught onto the gist of it. At Leon's last words he looked up, his aquamarine eyes finding Sora immediately. "I agree. Kairi's waiting," he said, a faint smile showing at the thought of the redhead. Sora was surely excited to see her, after so many months away.

 

Sora looked down at the ground, forcing a weak smile. He desperately wanted to see Kairi, but did she want to see him? He had been forced to leave her alone for four months; he didn't know if their relationship changed over that time. He loved her as much as he always had, if not more, but what was she feeling?

 

"I'll walk you back to the ship whenever you're ready," Riku said with a nod to his best friend, seeing that Sora appeared a little hesitant. At least, that was what he interpreted. Regardless, it was time for Sora to get going; it was his turn to go home now.

 

Sora nodded, lifting his head to look up at Riku. "I'm gonna take one last walk around by myself," he said, looking at Leon and then to Riku. "How about we meet there in about an hour?" He wanted to see the place one last time, assuming that he wouldn't be back for a while. That, and he needed to figure out what he would do when he got home.

 

Riku nodded once, not speaking a word. He was sure that the expression he held against his features was enough to tell Sora that he understood; he would let him do whatever he needed to do before departing.

 

"Good luck with everything, Sora," Leon said, unfolding his arms as he looked to his friend. "I'd say "see you around", but that isn't quite right, is it?" It would be unusual not to get a visit from Sora every once in a while, and he would miss it.

"Yeah," Sora said, giving Leon a nod in agreement. "But I'm sure I'll see you later." He didn't know when the day would come, but he was sure his days of eliminating Heartless weren't over. Someday he would be able to visit his friends again.

Leon nodded, a small smile on his lips. "I'll see you later, then." He agreed with what Sora had to say; it was never goodbye.

 

Riku's gaze shifted to both of the people before him when each spoke, and he ran a hand through his hair as his eyes stopped on Sora. He was sure things were going to be quiet with him gone, but it was his time to go home.

 

Sora smiled at Leon one last time, that being the only farewell he would give. He didn't want to make it long and painful, because there wasn't much reason to. Even if they didn't see each other, they were still friends. Sora turned around, glancing at Riku before he started back down the stairs. He didn't know where he was walking to, just that he was going to say goodbye to this place and try to figure out what to do next with his life.

 

Riku caught a glimpse of what was going on in Sora's head when they connected eyes, even for a split second. With that small glance, he knew that Sora really needed the hour to himself, whatever was going on in his mind.

 

On Earth

Sora walked on the New York sidewalks, hands in the pockets of his jeans as he scanned the area around him. Unlike when he left, it was no winter; February, if he was correct in his thinking. It was unbelievable to think he had been gone that long, but that was the truth. And honestly, it felt longer than that. This place was completely foreign to him, and he felt like an outsider now. It was an uncomfortable feeling, and he almost wished he could return to fighting the Heartless. However, that wouldn't suit him well; Kairi was here, and wherever she was, he wanted to be too.

 

Kairi found herself laughing at Nathan as he told her a story about his father, the girl washing her dishes in the sink. The past couple months with him had been great so far; their relationship was going well. Nathan respected her and made her laugh, something she appreciated, because underneath... The girl focused on listening to Nathan again, pushing those thoughts aside; she had successfully done it for the past four months. Now wasn't a good time to forget that.

 

Sora kept walking, turning around a street corner. He had stopped at home to put on jeans, a T-shirt and a jacket, but he hadn't stayed at his house for long. He was on his way to Kairi's now, despite the fact that he didn't know what he would say to her. He knew that his heart was beating rapidly inside his chest just at the thought of her. Still, he was sure that seeing her would be ten times more extreme than what he was feeling.

 

Nathan relaxed in one of the chairs at the kitchen table, leaning back on two legs and sighing away his laughter. "Yeah... I'm sure you'll get to meet my father soon," he said, looking down at the wooden table as he tapped his fingers against it. "I'm going to visit him."

"Where at? In New York?" Kairi asked, glancing over her shoulder before turning back to the plate she was washing. She still had a smile on her face from Nathan's silly story, but she was curious. Nathan had said earlier that his father was out of town for a while, and he was staying with an uncle here in the city.

"He's not too far away," Nathan said, though he was really thinking how worlds away his father really was. He was waiting for his son to bring home something special, or someone. He just had to pull a few strings still.

 

Sora saw Kairi's house coming up, and he was aware that he was holding his breath. He almost chickened out and turned around, but his desire to see Kairi overcame any fear he felt. He shut his eyes for a second as he went up the path to Kairi's house, then taking a few steps up onto Kairi's porch. "Here we go," he murmured, wiping his sweaty hands on his jeans before he lifted his right hand and rang the doorbell.

 

Kairi was about to reply, but she forgot what she was going to say as soon as the doorbell rang. She turned her head toward the doorway that led into the foyer, the girl then looking down at her hands. She started to set down the dish she was cleaning when Nathan's voice reached her.

"Don't worry," Nathan said, getting up from his seat and already walking toward the entrance hall. "I got it." He heard Kairi tell him thanks before he walked into the entryway and approached the door. He pulled it open, instantly being greeted with the cold weather and the boy standing on the porch.

 

Sora blinked, surprised when there was a boy in front of him. He briefly wondered if he was at the right house, but he knew that this was indeed Kairi's home. "Hi," he said, his facial expression calm as he brought up a hand and ran it over the back of his spiky hair. "Is Kairi home? I'm an old friend." Of course, he was much more than that, but that was the best explanation he could come up with on a moment's notice.