Welcome to Gaia! ::

Another note, I got 26 chapters written and will be posting them up here. (You can also find them on Fanfiction.net) Im trying to finish the story at chapter 30, but I hit a major writer's block, so, ya, might be a while before the ending is posted.

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Chapter 2

How many days had passed since Riku had left the destroyed city of Hallow Bastion, once known as Radiant Garden? He didn’t know. He couldn’t keep track. He would just keep on walking until he found a place with food.
That’s all that mattered now. Food. Riku was keeping track of that. He hadn’t eaten something in 2 weeks, 3 days, 9 hours and 27 minutes. There was nothing better to do then count the days without putting something in his mouth.
The image of people eating whatever they felt like popped into his head. They never went hungry. They never felt cold and alone. They were the inhabitants of Neverwas. Never was a disaster. Never was an infection. Never was any change. You see why the city was called Neverwas. It was to forget what had happened to the world. To forget all the fear.
All the fear went to those infected with Solluna.

As Riku reached the top of the hill, a warm sun greeted him. It was a long time since he felt so...so...nice. The sun was setting on the horizon and coloured the sky in all the shades of red, orange and yellow. The place he left didn’t have this sort of scenery. The mountains surrounded the city and made it very cold and dark. Even before the infection started. He was glad he left.
Laughter came from down the hill.
It was another town. But unlike before, where you were surrounded by imposing mountains, this one gave view onto the never-ending ocean. Little islands floated not too far off shore. This place was greener, livelier. It was as if the moon disaster had never happened.
Children were playing in the street. They weren’t afraid to come out. Maybe because this town was so far away from Neverwas. Or maybe because it was like Neverwas.

Riku silently snuck into the town quietly; for fear that they might eliminate him if he was caught. He would just quickly grab something to eat then leave. That was the only reason for coming: food.
He eventually found his way to get around, without being seen, in the maze-like streets. And he also found what he was looking for; a bakery stood not too far away and fresh bread was cooling on the window sill. He walked up to it as sneaky as possible.
“Almost there, just a little more...there!” Riku thought as he took one of the freshly baked bread.
Suddenly, he was grabbed and picked up by the collar of his shirt.
“What do you think you’re doing?” a voice asked. Riku turned his head to see a man, around the age of 20, with blond hair and blue eyes. He was dressed in weird clothes that looked kind of like...the extermination soldiers.
“Oh, no! Oh no! OH NO!” Riku kept repeating in his head. “This place is like Neverwas! I’m going to get killed!”
“Cloud! You’re scaring him! Put him down!” a sweet voice ordered. The man immediately did what he was told.
A woman hunched down and looked at Riku, to see if he was alright. She had beautiful green eyes that seem to be complimented by her brown hair, which was placed into a braid and held up by a red ribbon.
“Are you alright? He didn’t hurt you, did he?” she asked with a voice of an angel. Riku shook his head in sign of no.
“Geez, big brother, why did you do that?” another voiced asked. This one came from a small girl with light blond hair and blue eyes. She was holding a basket filled with food that seemed a little too heavy for her.
“He was stealing some bread from the bakery,” Cloud answered, as he pointed at the food still clutched in Riku’s arms.
“May I have it?” the women asked, holding out her hand. Riku slowly put the bread in her hands and she put it back in its place.
“There! Now nothing was stolen,” she said with a smile. Cloud seemed unsatisfied, but he was going to accept it for now.
These people seemed nice. No! They just looked that way because they didn’t know he was infected! Riku started to worry. He looked around and saw a small opening; without hesitating, he ran for it. He didn’t look back to see if the man would chase him, he just wanted to get out of there.

Chapter 4
They lived in an abandoned mansion just outside of town. It had a perfect view of the ocean and was in walking distance of the beach. An island could be seen in the distances.

The inside of the mansion was very big and well taken care of. Aerith told Riku which doors led to which rooms: the one on the left led to the dining room, the one on the right, to the bedrooms, the ones upstairs led to the playroom and the library and the window door led to the garden.
“Roxas, Sora. Why don’t you show him to the others?” Aerith asked.
“O.k.!” Sora answered in a happy tone. He dragged Riku into towards the bedrooms, while Aerith headed towards the kitchen. Roxas trialed not too far behind while keeping an eye on Riku.
They were about 15 bedrooms lined side-by-side and face-to-face in the long hallway. The first 2 rooms were empty when Sora opened them. But the 3rd was occupied...by two kids.
“Sora! Where have you been?!” a red-headed girl shouted angrily, her violet eyes burning with intensity.
“We were just outside playing,” he answered.
“In the dark? Are you crazy or what?”
“Kairi, calm down. You’re going too far. Remember what happened last time?” a familiar blond hair girl said. She was sitting at the table that was placed in the middle of the room, drawing.
“Anyway, we came to show Riku to you guys...and the others when we find them,” Sora said, placing his hands behind his head.
“Who? You mean him?” Kairi asked, finally noticing Riku.
“Yes him,” Sora answered. She examined Riku quickly then said:
“Hey, Naminé, this guy meets up to the description of the boy you met.” The blond girl looked up from her picture and stared at him with wide-eyes.
“And here I thought I’d never see him again...” she nearly whispered.
“Anyway, have you guys seen the others?” Sora asked.
“I think Leon and Cloud are in the library. And Axel and Demyx went to the island with some friends. I don’t know where the rest are...probably in town somewhere,” Naminé answered. As soon as she finished, Riku was whisked away upstairs by the twins.

They busted into the library with such a bang that Riku was afraid the doors might fall off. But they didn’t, as if they were use to that sort of ruckus.
“Axel! How many times did I tell not to tackle the door down?!?” A tall man with slightly long brown, blue eyes and a scar that crossed his face from one side to another walked around the corners of one of the bookshelves.
“Hiya Leon! We were just showing Riku to everyone. Sorry about the door,” Sora said with a big smile. His twin seemed less tense all of a sudden. Did these two feel safer around this man?
Leon walked up to Riku to take a better look.
“Where were you guys?” he asked, not taking his eyes of Riku.
“We were playing in the forest.”
“You know you are not allowed to be out after dark. We wouldn’t want the same thing to happen like last time.”
“Last time we were separated. But that won’t happen again. We promise.” Leon turned to look at Sora.
“And what about the “we”? You and Roxas are different people so you can’t use “we”.”
Now that Riku thought about it, he had never heard Roxas talk once. Sora talked every time...and always referring himself as we.
“Hey, Leon! Where did you put that book?” Riku looked to see where the voice came from and was shocked to see its owner; there, where Leon had just came from, was the blond man from before. The one who looked like an extermination soldier.

Chapter 6

“He’s our friend, we found him in the forest!” Sora answered with a mouth full of food.
“Sora, don’t eat and talk at the same time,” Aerith warned.
“Are you planning on keeping him?” the red-head replied, referring to Riku as if he was a pet.
“Yes no,” Sora answered. He looked to his brother. “...Maybe. But it’s not our decision.”
“There he goes again...” Leon signed.
“Well I think Riku should stay. It’s been a long time since someone new has joined the family,” Aerith said, passing around seconds.
“It’s been what? Two years since the last time?” A short black hair girl asked. She was sitting beside Leon and kind of looked like a ninja.
“Yup! That’s when Sora and Roxas were brought home by Leon and Cloud,” Naminé answered from beside Riku.
“Time sure does fly by...” Aerith said to herself. Everyone fell silent, as if recalling lost memories.
“Well then, if Aerith says we should let Riku live here, then I’ll agree as well!” the ninja-girl said, breaking the silence.
“It doesn’t bother me,” a pretty women with long black hair replied.
“All that means is that will get a new roommate,” the blond hair boy beside the red-head thought out loud.
“A new roommate, eh?” the red-head said with an evil grin.
“Well, I liked Riku to stay and I’m sure brother can’t go against Aerith’s will,” Naminé said as Cloud simply continued eating.
“That means he gets to stay?!?” Sora asked excitedly. Aerith nodded. A smile grew on his face and he jumped up on his chair, nearly falling over.
No one even bothered to ask for Riku’s opinion. He just sat there, dumbstruck.
“Hey, Riku? You ok? You look kind of dazed,” Naminé whispered, shaking Riku by the shoulder.
“Huh? What?”
“Listen, Sora is giving you everyone’s name. It would be impolite if you didn’t know your own family member’s name.”
“You know us, Leon, Cloud, Aerith and Naminé,” Sora started, pointing to everyone respectively as he said their name. “Then you got Axel beside you and Demyx beside him. And Tifa in front of you and Yuffie beside Leon.”
“That’s the Great Ninja Yuffie to you!” she said after Sora finished.
“Got it memorized?” Axel asked.
“Ya...” Riku mumbled.
Everyone returned back to their original topic, leaving Riku to eat the rest of his food in peace...somewhat.

After supper, Riku was dragged away by Sora again, back towards the bedrooms.
“You’ll be sleeping in here,” Sora said, placing Riku in front of bedroom number 2. “We would let you sleep with us, but the rooms only occupy four people. Us, Leon and Cloud sleep in room 1, and the girls sleep in room 3.”
“That means Axel and Demyx sleep here?”
“Yup, they are your new roommates!”
“Sora, Roxas! It’s time for bed!” Aerith called from the main hall.
“Ok, we’re going!” Sora replied. “Good night Riku.” The twins turned around and headed for their room in perfect synchronization. Once they were out of sight, Axel and Demyx entered the hallway of bedrooms.
“Say, how old are you?” Axel asked.
“Seven,” Riku answered.
“That means we got 3 years on ya! Demyx?” As soon as his name was pronounced, Demyx grabbed Riku and nearly threw him into their room.

The 2nd room was horribly messy. Clothes were flung practically everywhere; in the corner, on the unused beds, on the lamps and even on the ceiling light. Some parts of the wall were either burned or slightly wet. Already Riku could guess what these two’s powers were.
“I’m guess one of you is a pyromaniac and the other a water freak.”
“You know our powers but we don’t know yours...That is a little unfair,” Axel said as he snapped his fingers, creating a small fireball. “Wouldn’t you agree Demy?”
“Maybe a little.”
“Ah, you’re no fun,” Axel pouted. He straightened up and looked at Riku as if he was an imposing foe. “How about a little fun before we say good night?”
Riku knew immediately what Axel was referring to.
“s**t.”

Chapter 8

Riku had hardly slept all night, wondering what horror awaited him today. Though he had a good idea, somewhere, deep down, he knew it wasn’t going to be fun for him.

Breakfast was almost exactly like supper, except for the food, of course. Everyone was talking and barely paying attention to what they were doing. Riku didn’t talk. He only spoke when Naminé asked him some stuff, or wanted an opinion.

After breakfast was eaten, everyone scattered to do their own things. Axel headed out towards the island with Demyx. Most likely to receive punishment from Roxas for waking them up last night. The girls headed towards their room to ‘prepare’ as they told him. Leon and Cloud went to square off against each-other in the garden in a friendly match. That would most likely get out of hand. The twins had disappeared somewhere, but Riku knew he would see them again sometime today. And Riku? Well, he was patiently waiting at the entrance of the mansion for the girls. Today, they were going shopping for clothes.
“Alright Riku, I think we’re ready now,” Naminé said as she came skipping towards him. She wore a simple white dress with white sandals. Though plain, it made her look quite cute.
Aerith was the second to join up. She wore a pink and white dress and brown boots. Her hair was placed in a braid and held up by a red ribbon again today.
Yuffie and Tifa both wore black attire that seemed specialized for fighting.
“Say, Riku, what sized shoes do you wear?” Yuffie asked, her eyes locked and scanning Riku.
“Err, I think 6, but I’m not really-”
“To the shoe store first!” She grabbed Riku and dragged him out of the house, the others in hot pursuit.
“How about these ones?” Aerith asked, showing Riku a pair of running shoes. “Here, try them on.” She quickly passed them onto his feet. The shoe store was located in the middle of town, along with pretty much every other store too. People were everywhere today, maybe because it was Saturday. The train was going around the area, dropping and picking up people. It was a lovely day.
While Aerith was getting Riku to try on shoes, the other girls were enjoying their own sort of shoe shopping. Finally, Riku decided on a pair of black and white running shoes.
“Alright, we got what we came for, so drop the fancy shoes and let’s go,” Aerith practically ordered. The other girls were in the older women isle with all the high-heels and prettier shoes.

The next store the small group went to was the clothing store for both genders. The girls, other than Aerith, all went to the girl side, while Riku went to the boys with Aerith.
“Let’s see, we could get a few pairs of pants and shirts. That should do you for a while,” she said. They started looking and eventually, after trying on everything in the store, got 3 pairs of pants and 4 shirts. Now it was time to find the girls who had disappear into the rows and rows of girl clothes. Riku wasn’t going to like what he was going to see.
Luckily, Naminé came to them, so they didn’t have to search.
“Come quick! You have to see this!” she said, moving her arms in a way to say come on. There wasn’t much of another choice.

Naminé led the two into the isle of girly, frilly dresses; the kind you’d find on dolls.
“Aw, you guys look so cute!” Yuffie’s voice ringed out. They found her and Tifa surrounded by piles of tried on clothes, crouched down over someone.
“What are you guys doing?” Aerith asked. The two turned towards them to reveal...Sora and Roxas dressed up like porcelain dolls.
“What the-” Riku asked, stupefied.
“We’re playing dress up!” Sora answered happily.
“You shouldn’t be surprised Riku. They’re only 6, so they are allowed to do this sort of thing,” Naminé replied to Riku’s face. Sora skipped up to him and grabbed his arm.
“Come dress up too, Riku!” he said with a big smile on his face.
“I’d rather not,” Riku replied.
“You won’t play with us...?” Sora asked, putting on his best puppy-eyed face.
“Urg...Fine,” Riku answered, giving to Sora’s highly irresistible face. An evil grin appeared on the face of the girls and Riku immediately wished he hadn’t agreed.

In the end, Riku ended up in a super, flashy pink dress and his hair in two little girl ponytails.
“Riku is pretty now! But not as pretty as us!” Sora complimented...somewhat. In reality, it seemed that Sora was the only one, other than the girls, who was enjoying this dress up. Now that he thought about...
“Say, Roxas. Weren’t you suppose to meet up with Axel on the island?” he asked as he got undress. He was in the dressing room, of course, with the twins.
“Axel will wait all day until we go. So we don’t have to leave right away,” Sora answered in his brother’s place.
“Oh, I see.” Once they changed back to their original clothes, the girls headed back to the mansion while the guys went to the island. Axel was patiently waiting on the beach.
“Roxy finally decided to show up,” he said, nervousness betraying his act.
“We don’t like it when you call us like that. You’re in big trouble now,” Sora said, placing his hands on his hips.
“You’re not the one I’m talking to,” Axel replied. Roxas simply stared, as if he dealt with this kind of thing every day.

Chapter 10

Almost no one got any sleep that night. The twins were the only ones, but they only slept for 2 hours. Everyone stood in front of the mansion. It was about time to leave. To leave and lose everything they once held dear. Sora was still crying while his brother tried to comfort him. He probably wouldn’t stop crying until he had no more tears to cry.
“Alright, let’s go before we lose the chance,” Leon said, picking up his things and moving away from the mansion. The rest fallowed slowly. They didn’t want to leave their home behind. Their precious memories.

It seemed the whole town was packing up. Everyone were closing their shops or just abandoning everything and leaving with just the clothes on their backs. It was very sad to watch. The sky even started to cry.

---&---

“So this is the place. Quite the paradise, wouldn’t you agree, Sephy?” a tall lady asked. She stood on top of a far off hill along with seven other people. They watched the people of Twilight Town pack their stuff and leave under the torrent rains of the heaven.
“What have I told you about calling me that way, captain?” A tall man responded.
“So sorry, general,” the women apologized sarcastically.
“They look so small and miserable. Can we attack them now, head-general?” another, smaller man asked.
“In due time, my friend, in due time.”

---&---

Cloud stopped in his tracks. He was getting a weird feeling, as if someone, far away, was watching them.
“Big brother?” Naminé asked. She was very tired and could barely walk, using her brother for support.
“It’s nothing. Keep going,” Cloud answered. Yet the more they got closer to the border of the town, the more he felt the burning stare of the eyes.
“You feel it too?” Cloud looked up to see Leon beside him. He was looking around without moving his head so the others wouldn’t notice.
“Ya,” Cloud answered. “I felt it for a while now.”
“You wouldn’t think they’ve arrived sooner than we thought?”
“It’s highly possible. Neverwas does have access to vehicles.”
“Then it’s pointless trying to run away now. Will be caught at the exit of town.” The two stopped to stare at each other in the fast. Aerith was the first to notice.
“Is everything alright?” she asked. The rest of the group stopped. Some of the people around them stopped too.
“We think that it might be too late to escape,” Leon answered. People started to murmur. This wasn’t good. Everyone would start to panic, and that’s just what the enemy wants.
“What are you talking about? That the extermination soldiers are already here?” Tifa asked.
“That’s exactly what we’re talking about,” Cloud answered.
“Then we were doomed from the start?!” an older women asked.
“That’s right and now it’s all over for you.” Everyone’s gaze turned to see a tall man with really long silver hair standing on the roof. He wore the general uniform; this wasn’t someone you wanted to mess with.
“Sephiroth!” Cloud cried out.
“Ah, Cloud. My favourite trooper. You would have made a wonderful captain if you hadn’t betrayed us.” It seemed the two of them went way back. How back was unclear since Cloud was only 16, and this man, around 20.
“I never like you in the first place,” Cloud growled back. Sephiroth laughed and then, in a blink of an eye, found himself in front of Cloud.
“But enough about you. How is your baby sister?” Cloud slashed something at Sephiroth while pushing his sister towards Tifa. Apparently, Cloud had a hidden dagger under his shirt.
“Oh well, I guess trying to do things peacefully is over. Now the real war begins,” Sephiroth said, snapping his fingers. A group of snipers appeared on the rooftops. “Good-bye.”

No one would have survived if they were human. Thank god for their powers. Tifa and Naminé had been rescued by Yuffie. Aerith was rescued by Leon and Cloud. Axel had put up a fire wall to protect him, Demyx and a few other civilians. Riku had barely managed to stop all the bullets in mid-air with his telekinesis. Sora and Roxas were safely behind an invisible barrier they had created.
“Don’t think that’s it. This war is far from over,” Sephiroth said from the top of the building.
Suddenly, bombs started to blow up in all directions. Guns could be heard and other noises as well. Most likely those who were infected were fighting back.
Sephiroth shot one last glance at Cloud, and then turned to leave.
“Sephiroth!” Cloud yelled, dashing after him. More soldiers appeared on the streets, so Leon couldn’t fallow his friend.
Riku, Axel, Demyx and the twins got separated from the rest as the battles started exploding in every corner of the street.
“We have to get out of here,” Riku yelled over the gunshots.
“No, really? What was your first clue?” Axel asked sarcastically.
“We don’t have time for your stupid jokes, Axel. This is serious! We could get ourselves killed!”
“You’ll get yourselves killed. We are safe from harm as long as we stay behind our barrier,” Sora replied. He looked to his brother and gave him an angry look. “But we can’t leave them! They are our friends!”
“Sora! This is also not the time to fight with yourself!” Riku said, grabbing the twins. The small group of children rushed through the streets, avoiding death’s hand by mere inches. They were heading back to the mansion; the only safe place they knew.

“Where do you think you’re going, kiddies?” Riku felt a tug on his arm and turned around to see Sora in the clutches of women. This woman smiled evilly. She wore a captain’s uniform, another person you shouldn’t mess with, and a sort of cap in the form of dragon horns.
“Let go!” Sora demanded as he struggled to get free from her grip.
“Now, now. I won’t hurt such a sweet boy. That is, if you aren’t infected,” she said, closing in on the boy.
Roxas didn’t like this and tackled the women. Sora managed to free himself when the women lose her balance.
“Guys run!” Axel shouted. And that’s just what they did, continuing to head towards the mansion.
“You little brats. I’m going to slaughter you!”

Chapter 12

The women simply stared at Sora, who was crying over his unconscious brother. She must have thought he wouldn’t be much of a fight like that, for she turned her gaze towards Riku.
“How about you?” Riku was frozen in place. This was worst then the time he escaped from Hallow Bastion. Far worse. There was no way he could take her on. He’d be out just as fast as Roxas was.
“No! Pull yourself together! You have to at least try!” Riku thought. He braced himself for whatever attack the women might throw at him, while trying to concentrate on his powers.
The women called forth some of the iron sand surrounding them and directed them to Riku. He dodged the first attack but got a full blow to the back.
“She can attack me from all sides while her sand surrounds us. If only...” It was then that he realized something. This was iron sand, it wasn’t something magical. And because of that, he could control it with his telekinesis.
“What are you smirking about?” Riku hadn’t realized but he had the biggest smile ever. For some reason, this seems to tick the women off. “Wipe that smile of your face, foolish child!” The iron sand came flying towards Riku, who simply moved his hands in front of him. The black sand stopped in its tracks, as if someone but up an invisible barrier.
“What?!” the women asked, stupefied. Riku redirected the sand towards its previous master, who dodged it barely. Blood started to tickle down her cheek from the cut below her eye. Her hand trembled as she reached up to touch the wound and stare at the blood.
“How DARE you hurt I, Maleficent, the 2nd captain of the 1st general!” she yelled as her face twisted with anger. She tried to call forth her weapon again, but it didn’t respond; Riku had full control of it now. “Fine! I don’t need some measly sand to kill you!”
The women, Maleficent, ran head on towards Riku. It was clear that anger was clouding her thoughts. Oh well, her downfall.
Riku moulded the sand into small spikes and aimed them at Maleficent, who didn’t even seem to notice them.
“Who’s the fool now?”Riku asked no one in particular as the iron spikes forced down on the deranged women.

Once Riku had gotten rid of the pierced body of Maleficent and found the others, it was time to see if the twins we’re alright.
Sora was still sobbing over his brother, while muttering something below hearing. Roxas was still unconscious and seemed in pain.
“Wow, what did she do to him?” Axel asked when he saw Roxas.
“I don’t know. We got here too late,” Riku answered. He bent down beside Sora.
“We’ve got to bring him to someone who can heal him.”
“Aerith could do it, if we knew where she was,” Demyx replied.
“She can’t be too far. Axel, you carry Roxas to the mansion. Me and Demyx will go search for the others,” Riku ordered. Axel did as he was told and took Roxas; Sora stumbled behind him.
“Come on Demyx, we should start looking.”

It seemed the town had gained an upper hand in the battle against the extermination soldiers. Some were even retreating by now. Apparently, 4 captains had been killed (including Maleficent) and the troopers were losing their confidence. Only the general and the head-general were still going strong.
Aerith was nervously watching the battle between Sephiroth and Cloud. They were barely on the same level and Cloud had the misfortune of being weaker, less experienced.
“Aerith!” Riku called out. She turned around, surprised and relieved to see them.
“Roxas! You have to help him! He’s hurt really bad!” Demyx nearly shouted.
“I understand...” Aerith replied. She took one last glance towards Cloud, and then fallowed the two children towards the mansion.

Chapter 14

The golem swiped two people and sent them flying into a nearby building. Ansem was quietly smiling from the front of his weapon. It was almost as if he was teasing them.
On the other hand, the people of Twilight Town, or more, those who could fight, were gathered around the head-general not knowing how to proceed.
“Is that all you’ve got? I thought you monsters were stronger than that,” Ansem taunted. Another pair of infected people advanced on him, only to be pinned down and rendered immobile by the golem. “Too easy.”

---&---

“Did you see that?!” Yuffie shouted. Her, Leon, Cloud and Tifa were thinking over what they’ve just seen.
“Damn. Looks like the only way to beat him would be for everyone to charge in at the same time. But I don’t think they’re willing to do something like that...” Leon replied.
The golem picked up the two people it had pinned down and threw them into the crowd. Ansem then started to walk in the same direction.
“Looks like he’s making his move,” Tifa pointed out. The golem swung its arms around, scattering the stun citizens. Some who had managed to dodge the first attack went to retaliate, but were quickly swatted like flies.
“Well, come on! We got to at least help!” Yuffie said, grabbing her shuriken-like weapon off the ground. The others slowly fallowed her, along with a few other people that were near them. Leon was the last one to get moving.
“Why does it seem that man is headed somewhere...?” he mumbled.

---&---

“Roxas! Roxas, are you alright?” Roxas opened his eyes. His body was still in pain, but it didn’t hurt as much as it had before. In fact, it seemed like the pain was slowly drifting away. He looked up to see Aerith praying. Or at least, it looked like she was praying. Axel was standing at the edge of the bed he was on, shouting his name. He was the one who probably got him out of unconsciousness.
“...Roxas?” Sora’s voice seemed in pain as it rang in his mind. Roxas turned his head lightly to see his brother sitting beside the bed, curled in a ball.
“Sora, are you alright?” Roxas telepathically asked. No one knew about the mind connection the twins shared and the point that they could talk through one another. In fact, it was surprising no one figured it out by now.
Sora nodded to answer his question; he looked like was just beaten up, even if there were no wounds, and was on the verge of tears. Roxas tried to lift his hand and comfort his brother, but his body refused to move.
“Don’t, Roxas. You’re already badly wounded.”
“I’m alright. You’re the one I’m worried about.” He was telling the truth. The pain was almost gone now, and Sora should have felt that too.
“Hey! Roxas, answer me!” Axel continued to shout.
“Axel...” Roxas moaned. His voice sounded as if he was choking on something. Some of the sand must have gotten into his throat. None the lease, it calmed Axel down.
A few minutes of silence passed and soon Roxas could move some parts of his body without any resistance. He took the opportunity to see who was there other than the three around his bed. Demyx was sitting on a chair on the other side of the room, while Riku leaned on the door of the room. Nobody else was there. They must be still in town, fighting.
Aerith let go of her trance to look at Roxas, who was now trying to sit up. Sora quickly came to his aid.
“Are you alright, Roxas?” she asked.
“I’m fine,” he answered in the same choking voice.
“You sure don’t sound fine,” Axel replied. Aerith shook her head.
“No, he’s fine...for now.” She turned and headed for the door. Riku moved out of the way to let her through, but she turned around at the last second.
“I’m going to search for the others. Will you be fine here?” she asked, examining everyone’s answer. They all said yes, and not a single trace of a lie in them. Aerith nodded, and headed out the door.