Fast Food Madness: The Epic Return

Sora felt two pairs of eyes on him and he looked up, seeing that Riku and Leon were looking to him. "I don't think I'm ready to go home yet," he said softly. "I can't...." I can't see Kairi when I'm like this, he thought, finishing the sentence inside his head rather than saying it aloud.

 

Roxas listened to Sora's words and closed his eyes against a breeze. Sora wasn't going home, and it wasn't like anyone was going to object to that. He was the Keyblade Master, and he was needed. But what about Roxas and Riku? Roxas couldn't go home, not how he was and his questions still unanswered...

Riku nodded once, but then he stared at his best friend. "I'm not going either," he said. "This was originally my mission, and I intend to finish it." He'd been at this for almost a year now. He wasn't going to quit the first chance he got to go home. He had a responsibility to take care of.

 

Sora nodded faintly, holding Riku's gaze. He knew Riku wouldn't budge on this; when he made up his mind, there was no way that he could be swayed. "I guess that leaves you, Roxas," he said softly, turning his head to look at his blond haired best friend as he spoke.

 

Roxas turned his head away from the others slightly at Sora's words, gripping the ledge he was still sitting on. "...I'm not going," he said softly, though his voice was firm.

Riku arched an eyebrow. He was the only one left that could go; it was either him, or trouble would ensue. The King said one of them could go. One of them wasn't needed anymore, so one had to leave. And so far, Roxas hadn't given a reason as to why he needed to stay.

 

Sora wasn't surprised at Roxas' response; somehow, he had sensed his friend wouldn't quite be willing to go home. "Why not?" he asked, wondering why the blond wouldn't go home. He could think of a reason or two, mostly concerning him gaining his memories back recently, but it appeared to Sora that he had all that under control.

 

"There are too many unanswered questions," Roxas admitted honestly, still not looking at anyone. He stared off ahead of him, gripping the ledge tightly. "I'm different now...and I can't let her see me like this. Not after everything." He shook his head, refusing to leave and go back home to a place that was a lie.

 

Sora kept his gaze on Roxas despite the fact that his friend refused to look at him. "Maybe seeing her would help you," he said gently. Namine and Roxas had a very open relationship, and if anyone could help Roxas get through everything, it was her.

 

Roxas lowered his gaze to the ground far below him. "I doubt it," he said. After everything he learned about Castle Oblivion and himself, he was confused. It was that simple.

 

"I don't believe that," Sora said softly, honestly. "She's always helped you before. Why should this time be any different?" He didn't know anything about Roxas' doubts concerning his and Namine's relationship. He didn't have any reason to suspect anything was wrong. After all, the only thing that had changed with Roxas was that he regained memories with the Organization. He hadn't met Namine during that time, so he didn't see how things could change with that.

 

Roxas finally looked at Sora, his eyebrows furrowed and eyes hard. "A lot of things are different," he said. "They involve more than just me." Namine was one of the problems--her association with Sora in the past. "Not even Namine can help me with this..."

Riku stared at the blond and his best friend. Well, this was going to be more difficult than he originally thought, and that wasn't easy in his mind either.

 

Sora was confused by what Roxas meant, but he didn't push that topic. "How can you be so sure?" he asked his best friend. "She's always been there for you to listen." He paused for a moment and then thought of something else he could say. "Even if you can't go to her with this, some peace at home would probably do you some good. You can sort things out, you know?"

 

What Sora didn't know was that "home" really didn't feel like home to Roxas anymore. After everything, he felt like it was a lie. He stared at his original self for a long moment before turning his head to look forward. "Whatever," he mumbled. They didn't want him here, fine. They thought he was the weakest? Whatever.

 

Sora arched a brow at Roxas' expression and mumbled word. "What do you mean, 'whatever'?" he asked, keeping his eyes locked on his friend. Roxas was acting irritable, and he knew he had to tread cautiously here, but he needed to know what was going on inside Roxas' head.

 

Riku agreed with Sora's question, wondering just what was up with Roxas. He stared at the blond with serious eyes, watching him carefully and registering his negative attitude.

Roxas spun around on the ledge and hopped off. "Forget it," he said lowly, walking off to head back down the stairs. "I'll go. You guys stay." He started to pass Sora, aware that all three of the guys were watching him, but he didn't make eye contact.

 

Sora stayed where he was, shifting his body slightly to watch Roxas leave. He stayed silent, knowing that any more spoken words could set his friend off. He didn't know exactly what the problem was, but if Roxas wanted to talk about it, he would have. Home'll be good for him, he thought, keeping his eyes on the blond. He didn't know why he felt so strongly about that, but he knew his friend needed some peace and quiet, and regular life could provide that for him.

 

Roxas passed Riku and eventually Leon as he approached the steps, jumping over the ledge near the stairs with the help of one hand. He landed on the steps only a few feet below and started down the stairs, not looking back.

Riku turned to Leon. "I guess it's settled then," he said, voice calm despite the thoughts racing through his mind, regarding Roxas and his behavior.

 

"I guess it is," Leon said in agreement, looking to Riku when he was spoken to. He had noticed Roxas didn't seem happy about the decision, but he wasn't about to ask why. After all, they had just met for the first time a few days ago.

Sora furrowed his brows slightly, arms across his chest as he looked down at the ground near the stairs. Roxas was acting out of character, but he couldn't very well pry into that. Lately, Roxas had proven to be even more easily angered than Sora. The brunet would try to talk to him in a little while and give him some space for a while. Tomorrow, Roxas would go home.

 

Riku turned his head to look at Sora after a moment. "You sure you want to do this?" he asked, trying to make sure that Sora really wanted to stay and not go home.

 

Sora looked over at Riku, leaving his thoughts behind as he focused on the question. "The only thing I'm sure of is that things'll only get worse if I go home," he said honestly. He would be an emotional wreck in front of Kairi, and that wasn't something he could do. Before he saw her again, he needed to pull his act together and be strong enough to support himself. That was how he saw it, anyway.

 

Riku nodded once, believing that Sora knew things weren't going to be very easy fighting either. And that he wasn't going to be given another opportunity to go home for a while. They rarely came around, but if his friend was sure, they would go on, just the two of them.