From Dusk Until Dawn (continued)

[Amber Lyn Annihilation]

Kaminari waited patiently for everyone in the small cottage to be asleep before making her escape. Shed desperately needed some time to explore this place for herself. Honestly, she needed some time to herself in general. There were a plethora of thoughts going through her head. Many of them were about this amazing new world she was in, but a few kept haunting her. They just kept coming back. The thoughts were about Hayner. She felt as though she still loved him, but there were times that she truly doubted herself when she said it. Her mind wondered, just as she did, as she walked through the empty town. She decided to work on a higher level spell she had read about while she was exploring. She was going to try her hand at flight. It sure would make exploring this place a hell of a lot easier. As she relentlessly tried the spell over and over again through town, she stumbled upon a hole in one of the castle walls. It seemed to lead somewhere, she followed her gut and climbed down the ladder.

Once she was to the bottom of the ladder, she looked around and found that she was in a cavern of sorts. The rock formations were a gorgeous violet mixed in with magenta. There were large pillars of rocks. As she looked up them, she could see someone sitting atop one of them. She decided to scale up the large pillar of stone to see who could possibly be up there. When she reached the top, she could see that it was a guy sitting in a long black cloak with silver hair. "Excuse me, not meaning to intrude on your...pillar sitting...but I saw you up here and just had to investigate." She spoke quickly before realizing that she had failed to introduce herself properly. "Oh, I'm Mina...and you are?" She questioned the stranger.

The silver-haired stranger looked at her, his eyes covered with a blindfold, before he spoke. "I'm Riku. I tend to come here when I need to think. You seem as though you're not from around this neck of the universe."

"Oh, actually, I'm from Twilight Town. And here I thought that travelling throughout the worlds was supposed to be some well-kept, unknown secret. At least that's what my brother always told me." Kaminari laughed a little bit as she spoke.

"Trust me, Mina, I've seen my fair share of different worlds to know better than that. So what are you doing wondering around so early in the morning, all by yourself?" Riku's voice sounded somewhat concerned about her.

"I just needed some time to explore this world and to have some time to myself to think, honestly. I've got some complicated shit going on." She laughed a little awkwardly again.

"No need for detail, I can understand." Riku laughed before he smiled a little bit at her. "I'd hate to see you walk back home alone and get attacked by Heartless though. Allow me to walk you home?" He offered his service in the form of a question, she could decline if she wanted to. She didn't want to turn him down though. He was already being way more thoughtful than she was used to. He was so intriguing to her, she would love to have the chance for him to accompany her home.

"I'd actually enjoy that quite a bit, I had a little too much time to think on my venture here. It'd be nice to have someone to talk to on the way back." She smiled at him softly.

The two walked out of the cavern and climbed up the ladder to begin the short venture home. Kaminari was right to assume that having company would keep her mind off of things. However, the two reached the cottage far sooner than she wanted to. It seemed as though the trip back was significantly shorter than her adventure out. When they reached the door, she turned around to face Riku. "Thank you again, Riku." She looked down at the ground as she spoke, for some reason he made her feel a little nervous.

"Anytime." Riku said nonchalantly as he began to walk away from her.

"Riku, wait!" Kaminari paused as he turned back around to face her. "When will I see you again?"

"I'm sure we'll see each other again a lot sooner than you think." He continued to walk away, out of sight, after he said that.

Kaminari snuck back into the cottage quietly, it seemed as if no one was awake yet. She rounded the corner to where Hayner and herself were to sleep, seeing that her sister was awake. "Shit.." She whispered, surely loud enough for her sister to hear her.

[pandoraxhearts]

Turning towards Kaminari, Pandora raised a brow, then decided to not question it much. She silently decided to cook for everyone in the house. She was unsure of who liked what, so Pandora made a spread including a little bit of everything. As she set the table she noticed Hayner groggily come down the stiars. She knew that Mina had been out, and she had just decided against perusing her early morning venture. She knew that Mina was very excited about this new place. She sat and ate in silence, hoping to herself that Satoshi would soon arrive to help with this anxiety, and nervousness of the new world, and her darkness. it felt a little stronger in this new world. As if she could do more with it. Shrugging off the thought, she watched Hayner kiss her sister's cheek and bid her a good morning. Something was very off about him lately, at least when he noticed she was awake. He had become very standoffish towards Pandora since the fight, but she supposes it's better off that way. Maybe there won't be another huge argument. She couldn't stand confrontation, or any type of abrasiveness to be honest. She decided to eat quietly and listen to Hayner and Mina speak. Silence was her best asset.

Hayner kissed Mina's cheek, and began to eat. "I missed you this morning my love. Where had you run off to? Just downstairs? Were you helping her make breakfast? Ahh, nevermind it. You're here now and that's what matters." He didn't bother to say her name. Everything she did was disgusting. He found it best to ignore her at all costs. Satoshi as well. He would just love Mina and get her away from them as fast as he could.

[Amber Lyn Annihilation]

Kaminari went downstairs with Hayner and sat next to him at the table where the amazing spread of breakfast was laid out for everyone to enjoy. She filled her plate up and felt relief wash over her as Hayner dropped the questions about where she was. She must not have made sure to be back in an appropriate amount of time this morning.

The others all started to wake up in the cottage. Everyone joined the three of them at the table to eat breakfast. "Man, who made all this delicious looking breakfast?" Cid questioned aloud as he piled his plate with food.

Yuffie piped up then. "I think it was, Pan. She seems like she's trying real hard not to be a bother." She grinned wide as she finished speaking before stuffing her face.

"Well, she doesn't need to worry about being a bother. We're happy to have the company and happy to help." Aerith told Pan in her soft-spoken voice directly, before laying a reassuring hand on Pan's.

Merlin had to take a break for a moment from stuffing his face as well. "My compliments definitely go to the chef!"

Kaminari listened as everybody said kind words of encouragement to Pan. She was glad to hear them all try to build her up. "We're so glad you guys opened up your home to us. We all really appreciate it." She beamed before she went back to eating her breakfast.

[pandoraxhearts]

Pandora looked down, her face growing a bright pink. She ate a little of the spread she laid out after quietly thanking everyone. How did Yuffie know that she felt like a bother? Nevertheless she was really happy they liked her. These people were actually quite friendly. She still felt weird that hanger was there. She could feel his icy shoulder across the cottage. After eating, Pandora got up and cleaned up her mess and the plates of everyone. "It's honestly the least i could do", she insisted. While washing the dishes she thought about Satoshi, where he was, how he was feeling, she was terrified of the lecture to come. She knew that she'd buckle and sob like the pathetic girl she is. She shook the thoughts from her mind, and dried her hand after cleaning. She watched and Sora, Goofy, and Donald came downstairs groggily. She smiled and quietly bid them a good morning directing them to the breakfast.

Sora smiled at Pan, "Thanks so much!" Goofy had a sloppy grin across his face "Yeah! Thank ya Pandora, i love eggs and bacon!" Donald looked up at her and while rubbing his eyes thanked her as well.

Hayner placed his hand on Kaminari's as they ate breakfast. "Did you sleep okay, princess?" He said between bites. Why did she make breakfast? He didn't really care, he was hungry. He didn't thank her but somewhat nodded. If only these people could see her true self. She isn't this plesant girl she's manipulating and disgusting, but she's the love of his life's sister and for some reason she really cared for her. So he will let her existance continue to mean nothing to him silently. He cared for Mina, and Mina alone.

[Amber Lyn Annihilation]

Kaminari finished a bite of her food before answering Hayner. "I actually felt pretty restless last night. I was a little too curious about this new world to go to sleep so easily." She laughed a little at herself to seem nonchalant. She didn't need Hayner catching on that she had went out to explore without him. She especially didn't need him finding out about her spending those few moments with Riku. She desperately wanted to see him again.

Satoshi finally woke up, the sunshine piercing through the windshield of the gummi ship. He stretched and sat up all groggy, knowing that he didn't have the time to wake up as slow as he'd like to. If he wanted to find the girls he'd have to get moving. He walked through the marketplace of Hallow Bastion, seeing familiar faces from the last time he'd been there. He walked straight through town, having a hunch of where they'd be. Walking up to a cottage, he took a deep breath before he opened the door. "Hey, Merlin, have any new people blown through here recently?" He asked out loud as he stepped through the door. He looked over only slightly and saw all three of them.

[pandoraxhearts]

Pandora's eyes were the size of softballs. Satoshi knew these people, and he found them. She walked quietly over to the door way "he-hello love." She bowed her head and let her hair hide her face "I'll go get my backpack." She turned and went up to the guest room and packed up her meds which she forgot to take, she ate though, then made the bed she rested in the night before and stood silently in the background the rest of the conversation. She was terrified.

Hayner got up and stretched and set his plate in the sink. "I'm just glad my adventurous girl is doing okay today." When he saw Satoshi at the door and look their way he heaved a heavy sigh. Shit he'd found them. It's gotta be her fault. She just couldn't stay away from her disgusting boyfriend. The thought of them made his stomach churn and him want to spill the contents of this morning's breakfast.

Merlin turned towards the three teens, "You know these three? The petite one made us breakfast and the other young girl has a very adventurous spirit. She's got quite a bit of tenacity and spunk. They were a pleasure, Satoshi." He beamed.

[Amber Lyn Annihilation]

Kaminari rolled her eyes hard as Satoshi walked through the door. Dammit, he'd found them so quickly. She was not going back to Twilight Town yet. She wasn't ready to and she was not caving this time. She expected the imminent scolding that was to come.

Satoshi took a deep breath and sighed, happy that he had found them, but his anger towards Mina shot back up through the roof. "Can I see you outside, Mina?" He paused thinking for a moment before turning to the rest of the inhabitants in the cottage. "Thank you all for welcoming them with open arms, also." He stopped again, giving Panda a reassuring kiss on the forehead, showing that he wasn't mad at her.

[pandoraxhearts]

Pandora stood twiddling her fingers she had really messed up. The kiss gently planted on her forehead gave her a slight reassurance. She watched out the window as he stepped outside waiting for Mina to follow. She hoped that he wasn't too harsh on her. She was following their dream. The girls had talked about leaving before but, Pan never thought Mina would be that rash about it. As Mina stepped outside, she smiled to everyone. "I really couldn't thank you enough for this, you were so kind for complete strangers. I know you all knew Sora, Donald and Goofy, but you were so kind to us and I'll be forever in your debt. I'm not sure how you know Satoshi, but he just cares a lot about us, he's protected us for so long. In fact, he rescued me from here about 6 years ago. That doesn't matter, but i just really can't thank you all enough, i can only hope that we meet again. But, it's time for me to go. Thank you all again so very much." Pandora walked out the door and patiently waited for their discussion to end.

[Amber Lyn Annihilation]

Kaminari walked out of the cottage just waiting for the barrage to start. Four..Three...Two...One.

Satoshi stepped outside with the girls and started right on Mina's cue without knowing it. "Kaminari Rei. I can not believe that you would leave Twilight Town and go who knows where with basically complete strangers. How do you know you would have gotten here safely? Or if you'd ever get back home? You think it's okay to just leave without notice and drag your sister along with you?" He was cut off.

"Listen, Satoshi, I don't care what you have to say about this. I've dreamt of leaving for other worlds for years. I knew they were already out there, why would I want to just stay in Twilight Town my entire life? I feel like I need to be out here somewhere. Something is calling to me. There's something I know is out here for me to learn. About myself. And I'm not going back home. Not yet."

"You are coming home, Mina. You have no idea what's out here! Sure you've seen Heartless, but you haven't seen Nobodies yet and they're much worse to deal with and much more dangerous! You are coming home with me and your sister." He started shouting at her then, wanting to blow up at her more and more.

"I don't care what you have to say to me, Satoshi! I'm not a child and can make my own choices. I'm staying here and going wherever I need to to figure out where this feeling is coming from!" Kaminari shouted back at him. She was going to stand her ground this time. He wasn't making her give up on this.

[pandoraxhearts]

Pandora stood between the both of them for they were pretty close to one another now and she feared they might get phtsical with one another. "Both of you listen to me for once, okay? Look Satoshi, i know you're worried sick about us but Mina protected me here. Sora has a good soul I can feel it. He doesn't make my darkness flare up and these people seem to trust him. I know you want to go back home but Mina isn't ready yet. I'm just glad you're here with me now. And you, Mina, at first i didn't want to go, but i needed to ensure your safety for Satoshi. I had a hunch that Hayner was going to jump on the train and I refuse to let him take you away from me and from Satoshi. I know you trust him now but i don't yet i know he hates me, but he doesn't matter right now you do. Yes i think this could have been planned better but i would still follow you. You were reckless and impulsive, Satoshi, you can be overprotective of Mina and she's a wild spirit. I, on the other hand don't mind the same day to day. Give her a chance though. Because there is something keeping me here too, i can't put my finger on it but i feel like we all three have a purpose here. Now quit fighting please. It's all you guys do and i can't stand it. For the love of darkness can we just go one damn day without one of us at one another's throat?" Pandora then took an elongated sigh. "Im sorry. I just want our family back.." she calmed the tone in her voice then walked off to the top of the flight of stairs where they first met the Cloud figure. She put her head between her knees and rubbed the back of her neck. She hated when they fought. Maybe just maybe her little upset would open their eyes. Toying with her hair after a minute, she tied it into an long braid that rested down over her left shoulder and the front of her body. She was tired of hiding her face.

[Amber Lyn Annihilation]

Kaminari listened to Pan yell at the both of them and was left dumbfounded. She'd never heard Pan speak in such a way, to anyone. She stood there in front of Satoshi, blank-faced as Pan stormed off. She just looked at Satoshi when she was gone. "So, we need to stop fighting apparently. Now, what do you say about all of this? She wants to stay too. There's something here that we can feel that needs to be found. If you wanna stay, stay. If not, go home. However, I'm staying. I have a reason to be here, I know it." She told him in an even voice level. She didn't want Pan to be distressed about it anymore. She'd stay by herself if she had to.

Satoshi watched as Panda stormed off after going off on the both of them. Mina continued to talk once Panda was gone. She was calm now and was speaking as though she knew what was here waiting for her, when in reality she didn't. He took a deep breath before he responded to her though, he wanted to remain calm, at least for his little Panda. "Fine, Mina. Stay if you must and I can't just leave Pan here with you and Hayner. He hates her and I don't want her in any danger without me there to protect her. If you two are dead set on staying out of Twilight Town and finding whatever it is you're looking for, I guess I'm stuck out here with you." He agreed to let then stay, but he sure as hell wasn't going home and letting the two of them be in danger. Not on his watch.

[pandoraxhearts]

Sitting on the steps she watched the sky thinking about all the other worlds that were out there, the endless possibilities that awaited them. She was scared to do it alone and hoped that Satoshi and Mina had talked things out. It was just so frustrating that they weren't ever happy for a single day. She desperately wanted to be happy even though this darkness and her sadness coincided. She looked off into the horizon and thought about what would become of them. Where they would go. She pulled out her paint and canvas and painted the beautiful sky and buildings. In the bottom left corner atop the steps was her signature blank canvas on a seemingly abandoned easel. She opened her journal and wrote down her feelings like she used to. She then put her things back into her backpack and began to hum softly, holding her knees thinking about things that didn't seem to matter at this specific time.

[Amber Lyn Annihilation]

Kaminari let out a sigh as her brother finally agreed to let her make her own decisions. Both her and Pan. "I'm going to go find her, okay? You wanna go in there and talk to everybody? I noticed that you seem to have eyes everywhere. Or at least that you know people everywhere." She began to walk off in the direction that Pan ran. She didn't want her sister to be stressed out over their 'family' anymore. It wasn't quite the family that it used to be, but it was still hers.

Satoshi nodded as he watched his sister walk away to find his Panda. He hung his head, looking at the ground, as he walked back into the cottage. "Hey, everybody, I know it's been quite a while since I was here last, but I must thank you again for watching over them."

"Oh, please, Satoshi. You're all business and no fun. We know you've been raising those girls since you were here last, but you need to lighten up!" Yuffie exclaimed at him.

"Ehh, you know how he is, Yuffie. He worries too much and would rather be cooped up in safe little Twilight Town rather than have a life and take some risks." Cid said before taking a drag on his cigarette.

[pandoraxhearts]

Pandora gets up and begins to walk to the little shop just left of the stairs she looks at all the trinkets weapons and health boosts and asks the little duck boy about the darkness repelling weapons. After the duck explains it keeps away evil and helps when you are attacked she thanked him, bought a small firaga ring for Mina, a max health ring for satoshi and a strength belt for herself. She then returned to the steps looking to the sky.

[Amber Lyn Annihilation]

Kaminari reached the top of the stairs, seeing Pan standing there looking absentmindedly at the sky. She continued to walk up towards her sister before she spoke. "Hey, Pan. Good news, we can continue on our adventure here, since we both feel something here that makes us want to stay. Satoshi finally agreed. Wanna go back to the cottage and thank your lover boy?" She asked Pan in a teasing tone, hiding her inner disgust as she said the phrase 'lover boy'.

Satoshi made himself comfortable inside the cottage waiting for the girls to return. All he wanted was to hold Panda close to him. He had been so worried about her upon learning not her leaving the safety of Twilight Town. He looked around at the people in the cottage, all of them were his friends. Everyone aside from Hayner. He wanted to explode at him. How could someone that loved his sister not try to stop her from adventuring out into the worlds and into harm? He didn't really love her if he was able to so easily let Mina leave the safety of her home.