Fast Food Madness: The Epic Return V2

"Just keep trying," Roxas encouraged. "Kairi's in a tough spot. We're all gonna have to help her get through this." He couldn't imagine how awful the girl must have been feeling, but from what Sora told him, Roxas knew that it wasn't something that was going to be triumphed so easily.

Kairi heard the name, realizing then that Sora was really talking to Roxas. She was sure she missed a lot of this conversation, and she was glad she did. Roxas never really liked Nathaniel, she knew, so she was happy she didn't hear the part of the conversation where they talked bad about him. Even if he was from darkness, she still had loved him... Love, she knew that was it now. The realization only made Kairi cry harder, the girl folding her arms on the tops of her knees as she buried her face in them.

 

"Yeah," Sora said softly, exhaling a breath after he said that one word. He suddenly had a pounding headache, his whole body ached, and his ankle felt like it was burning. He momentarily wondered if Roxas could hear the pain coming through in his voice, but it wasn't something Sora could easily change.

 

Roxas arched an eyebrow slightly, taking in Sora's tone. "Uh, Sora? Exactly how bad was the battle?" he asked. "You don't sound so good." Fighting darkness was never easy, but still, he thought he needed to ask.

 

Sora furrowed his brows, his free hand turning into a fist. "It was bad," he said, speaking through his teeth a little bit at the pain. If Roxas wanted specifics, then he would tell him, but if he didn't ask, then Sora wouldn't bother explaining.

 

"You said something about him having just as much darkness as Smith," Roxas said, the boy closing his eyes when he spoke the name. Even after this long, it was still hard. "Was it worse?" Fighting Smith had been one of Roxas's hardest struggles to date. He couldn't imagine anything harder than that.

 

"Probably not worse," Sora said honestly. "I'd say it's the same." That was hard enough for him. Not only was it a grueling physical battle, but the mental one was hard as well. Nathaniel had messed with his head before he died, and it had thrown Sora for a loop. He was still shocked by everything he discovered, especially about the Heartless.

 

Roxas didn't say anything on his end of the phone call, rubbing his forehead at the words. Nathaniel was as bad as Smith? He didn't think he could see it if he weren't aware of the darkness the Prince had carried within him, but now he guessed he could picture it.

 

Upon hearing Roxas' silence, Sora took an opportunity to ask a question. "...Do you have a set of crutches at your house?" He felt like he needed them. Perhaps his ankle was broken, but he wasn't going to the hospital. Even if he hadn't been there in a long time, he still hated that place.

 

"Yup," Roxas answered, nodding at the same time. Back when he broke his leg after the battle at the restaurant about a year ago, he had needed to use them. He couldn't help but wonder what happened to Sora in order for him to need them, though.

 

"Think I could borrow them?" Sora inquired, setting his jaw after he spoke the words. Not only did he hate to admit he needed them, but he was also in extreme pain now. He actually felt like he was about to pass out, though he knew that would have been very bad.

 

"Yeah, sure," Roxas said then. "Do you want me to bring them over?" He was already awake, and the crutches were in his closet. Running them over wouldn't exactly be a problem.

Kairi sniffled quietly, her head still buried in her kness. She didn't bother wiping all of the tears that were falling from her eyes away, because only fresher ones would replace them. She hadn't been able to ignore the conversation taking place in the room behind her, which only made her cry harder. All of this was terrible, every bit of it.

 

"Whenever," Sora said, not caring. He doubt he would be leaving his house much for the next few days; his ankle wasn't his only problem. He winced at his pounding headache, a dizziness overwhelming. "Roxas, I have to go," he said suddenly. "I'm going to pass out."

 

Roxas blinked in surprise, but didn't hesitate replying. "Alright. Take it easy, man." He wasn't sure whether Sora's reason for passing out was because of exhaustion or injury, but he did know his friend needed to get some rest.

 

Sora snapped his phone shut, then losing his grip on it and dropping it on the ground. He gritted his teeth together, leaning forward as his elbows rested on his knees. He brought his hands up behind his lowered head and interlaced them, his eyes shut tightly at the pain that was trying to take him under.

 

Roxas pulled the phone from his ear and shut it, just sitting there. Things about Nathan, or Nathaniel, were worse than they all thought. He knew he needed to talk to Namine and fill her in. She was probably worried sick about Kairi.

Kairi cried silently into her arms, but she noted that it was what also surrounded her--silence. Sora wasn't speaking anymore. She was partially happy about it, because then she wouldn't have to hear him and Roxas talk about her or Nathaniel any longer. It was painful to even think his name, after all he had done to her. Kairi wasn't sure if she would ever recover from this.

 

"Don't pass out; don't pass out," Sora mumbled to himself, moving forward and backward a little bit in dizziness. His instincts were telling him to stay awake, simply because he hadn't passed out in a long time. He didn't want that to change, since he considered it weakness to unwillingly lose consciousness.

 

Kairi sniffled quietly, trying not think at all. It only brought her pain, whether she thought of how cruel she had been treated and fooled or if her memories haunted her. It was torture; she didn't want to deal with it anymore.

 

Sora groaned, lowering his hands as he leaned into the back of the couch. It was no use; he was going to lose consciousness, whether he wanted to or not. He supposed that he was fortunate that nobody could see him in such an awful state, but other than that, he wasn't feeling too lucky.

 

But Kairi knew that crying wouldn't do anything to help her. It would help her deal with her emotions, maybe, but it wouldn't take the pain of her reality away. It was a sad thought to have, which only made her more emotional, but it was life. Her life, which had been shattered just like her heart because of him.

 

Sora didn't even have time to lay down before the dizziness completely overwhelmed him. Despite the fact that his eyes were closed, he saw everything turn black. He subconsciously leaned the side of his head against the couch, consciousness leaving him.