Fast Food Madness: The Epic Return

Sora finally looked up, stopping himself from focusing on himself. Yes, he was going through this a second time, but so was Riku. It was a bit different and perhaps harder because he had to go through the pain of reacquiring memories, but he still bet it wasn't easy for Riku. He knew that wasn't the case. "I'm sorry I made you come back here, Riku," he said, genuine regret apparent in his voice. "I wasn't thinking. At all. It was stupid and selfish."

 

"Maybe it was," Riku said, and then he shrugged. "But like I said, I'll deal." He wasn't regaining the memories of this place, but simply catching glimpses of them. Yeah, it was painful, but he was surviving. He'd never forgotten them, so the pain had never gone away, which meant it wouldn't affect him as heavily as it did Sora. Speaking of, Riku was sure it was going to be hard to cope with all that had happened here for the brunet. Riku may not have appeared that supportive earlier, but he was going to try and help Sora deal with it, just as he was.

 

Sora nodded slightly, staying silent. He really didn't know what to say to that. He really should have expected a response like that, since Riku hardly ever let anyone deep inside his head. And Sora didn't blame him for acting like that, especially after Sora's recent behavior. He was lucky Riku was speaking to him after all the nasty stuff he said and did.

 

Riku tilted his head to the side slightly when Sora didn't really respond, and without a word he started toward him. When he stopped in front of him, he lifted a hand and put it on his best friend's shoulder. "I know it's not easy, but you'll be alright," he assured him. He smirked slightly. "You're showing me the real Sora after everything you've learned. That should tell you enough."

 

Sora's eyes caught onto Riku's smirk and he felt a smile appear on his lips as well. He gave Riku an appreciative nod, showing that he appreciated both his gesture and his friendship. It's been too long since I smiled, he realized, the look of happiness fading at the thought. He furrowed his brows slightly and looked down at the ground, a look of seriousness crossing his features. I can't go back to who I was, but can I find a way to be genuinely happy again without feeling regrets?

 

Riku arched an eyebrow, smirk gone at Sora's facial expression. He wasn't sure he should ask what was wrong, so he stayed silent. He let his hand leave Sora's shoulder and come back to his side. Whatever was the matter, Sora knew he could tell Riku...and Roxas. The older teen looked behind Sora and at the Nobody, seeing him watching quietly.

Roxas's bright eyes made contact with Riku's and he furrowed his eyebrows slightly at the look. He wasn't sure what it meant, but he looked away after a moment, eyes falling on Sora again. After everything that was said and done, he knew that Sora didn't like this place. Roxas was the same; he felt uncomfortable here, like he didn't belong. In a way he didn't, because the last time he stepped foot in here, he passed out and was back in headquarters.

 

Sora looked up after a moment, his facial expression calm. Now wasn't the time to consider something that deep. Though they weren't quite at the top yet, Sora had a feeling he had recovered most of his memories. And yet...for some reason, he felt like he needed to know for sure. To finish what he started. "I know I don't have the right to ask this..." he started, looking over at Roxas before he looked at Riku.

 

Riku's eyes left Roxas and found Sora immediately, his expression taking on one of seriousness. Sora's tone didn't sound very comforting, as well as the words that were spoken. He waited patiently for him to continue, somehow knowing he wasn't going to like what he was about to hear.

Roxas continued to stare at Sora, leaving his thoughts and focusing on what was being said. Doesn't sound good, he told himself silently, though that didn't make him speak. He waited quietly for his Somebody to say the rest.

 

"...But will you two help me finish this?" Sora asked, finishing the sentence he started before. "It wouldn't feel right for me to stop one floor from the top," he elaborated. He had the rest of the memories from this awful place; why stop short? Maybe there was nothing left in this place for him, but he wanted to know without a doubt what he would be leaving behind, because he would be sure to never come back.

 

Riku looked at Sora for a moment before his eyes found Roxas, his expression one of questioning. Was Roxas up to it?

Roxas caught Riku's look and steadily held it for a moment before his gaze rested on Sora again. He nodded once before walking up and standing next to Sora. "What do you want us to do?" he said, glancing at Riku as he spoke before his eyes found Sora once more.

 

Sora looked over at Roxas beside him, since he had been the one who asked the question. "The last floor isn't a memory world; it's the actual castle," he explained. He didn't know how he knew this, he just did. And he didn't question it. "That means that it's going to be mostly if not all Nobodies, and I won't be able to fight through all of them by myself. Especially not if I blank out and get some more extreme memories," he said, thinking of the last one that had him immobilized in front of the three Berserkers.

 

Riku arched an eyebrow, smirking slightly. "And you think with that kind of information, we're just gonna let you go alone?" he said, not needing an answer. Sora was crazy if he thought that Riku was going to let him go through all of that chaos by himself.

 

Sora's lips turned up into a smile, his eyes landing on his taller friend. "Wasn't sure if you still held a grudge for me kicking your butt last floor," he responded jokingly, his smile turning into a faint smirk. It had been a fair fight...sort of. There were a lot of variables, like tempers flaring and them both being tired from the previous floors.

 

Riku rolled his eyes, laughing slightly. "You had luck on your side, pal," he teased. Inside, the topic was still a little sensitive, but he was willing to forgive Sora for it. Things had been darker and more ill-tempered down there, and Sora wasn't quite himself. "You and me, rematch. New powers and all." He smiled faintly, briefly remembering all of the "battles" they had back home.

 

Sora's smirk turned into a normal smile as he nodded, agreeing to Riku's request. "Just like the old days, huh?" he asked, not sure if it was a rhetorical question or one that was meant to be answered. He remembered their days on the Islands, when Riku was a mentor of sorts. Of course, a few times, the teacher was beaten by his own student. And though Riku insisted he threw away a few fights, and Sora believed he was telling the truth for the most part. But he was sure he won at least one fight fairly. That was good enough for him.

 

Riku nodded, and then smirked, narrowing his eyes slightly. "But this time, no showing off for the girl. Okay?" He chuckled lightly and ruffled Sora's hair before heading toward the door to the next floor. Back then, it had been easy to see that Sora tried his hardest not only to beat him, but to show off for Kairi as well. It had been quite humorous sometimes, and still was if he thought about it, but Riku knew that Kairi had found some sincere entertainment in it, which made the fights and teasing worthwhile.

 

Sora took a moment to recover from the joke, the teen blushing at the memory of Kairi. "H-hey!" he stumbled. "That was ages ago!" he said defensively, following his friend. But while he said this, a few chuckles left his lips. He couldn't help but take it in good nature, because he really had been showing off for Kairi those days.

 

Riku only laughed, continuing forward. He was surprised that he could even have a positive attitude after all that had happened, but of course, things were always different when Sora was around.

Roxas looked after the two for a few seconds, listening to them crack jokes at each other. His best friend came to his mind instantly at the sight. Axel... Roxas frowned slightly but followed the other two, his eyes on the floor. He missed his friend, and it hurt to know that he wasn't going to see him again.

 

Sora chuckled softly a few times, bringing a hand to the back of his head and running it over the spikes. He was glad he and Riku could laugh together again; he had forgotten how much fun they had together during the recent rough patches they've been going through. Their friendship was strong enough to handle everything, and he was glad for that. He looked away from the back of his friend and looked to the door that led to the rest of the castle, his smile fading some.

 

Riku climbed the stairs to the next floor, knowing Sora was right before he even entered the room. As he walked in, the place was silent, white, and held nothing within it. Not even Nobodies. He couldn't sense the darkness anywhere in the room.