Link folded his arms as he looked Ky over. "Well, I guess she could survive..."
"Guess or you know?" Ky asked, glaring at the blonde. Link smirked back and ruffled her hair.
"You can." Sora nodded and let his arms dangle to his sides. Red flipped his goggles back over his eyes and began prodding Ky's back. She flinched as he pressed several different nerves.
"If you make sure she eats something every three hours she should be fine... she's Anemic, so make sure she doesn't pass out, or you'll be in trouble," he said flipping the lenses back up and blinking over at Sora. He nodded again and looked over at the group again.
Ky pulled her hoodie back on and jumped gracefully off the stage. "All right... When can I go?"
"In a few weeks, after we make sure you are physically and mentally ready," Axel said, straightening from his position against the wall. Ky stared at him, then nodded and looked up at the ceiling.
"We need to plan a group together," Sora said, breaking his silence. Ky stared at him and blinked.
"We do, you and me-"
"No, I'm not so sure I can do it all by myself..." he said, glancing away embarrassedly. "Just in case something happens to me... need to make sure you are safe." He stood up and placed a hand on her shoulder, then glanced over at Link and Red. "I say we take Link, Riku, Sirius and Red with us."
Ky bit her bottom lip and glanced over at Link and Riku, they both nodded in agreement. Mac and Junior all looked up at her, questioning and worry in their faces. Zim folded his arms and shook his head while tapping his chin. "Zim doesn't like this," he whispered. Ky looked back at her brother and nodded firmly, trying to keep her lip from quivering.
"Okay..." Sora patted her back before enveloping his sister into a tight hug as he caught the glisten of tears in her eyes.
"We'll get them back, I promise..."
--
Jeremy just stared at Seito, trying to figure out why he seemed so familiar, or maybe he was just being paranoid, he couldn't decide. Seito crossed his arms and rubbed them, eyes darting over to look at the teenager on the other side of the room. Jer's fingers massaged his temples, trying to relieve the pain he received from the blackout blow. His pocket felt empty without the familiar lightweight of the letter copy.
Seito glanced back at the boy, quiet and strong, but terribly broken at the moment. He had been crying, not from pain, not in fear, but in anger. In his mind, he had failed, all his work of dropping him off in that town in the hope of protecting him had been for nothing. He was still here, trapped and having no clue as to what was going on or what horror awaited him.
Seito finally broke the silence, "How are you feeling?"
"Terrible," came the reply. Seito gave a small laugh before looking back at him.
"The pain'll pass in a while, it won't last." Jeremy glanced up at the older boy as he adverted his gaze quickly.
"... right," he answered, pulling his legs up closer and resting his chin on his knees. He stared up at the bleak ceiling through his blue bangs, a memory coming to his head. Back when he and Ky shared a room, she would lay in bed and find pictures in the ceiling markings. Being four, and the two knowing no better, they would find pencils, pens or markers and trace the picture outlines by stacking pillows and books, and occasionally, each other, to reach the ceiling. A smile split on his face as he found a rabbit shape lodged in the crevices of the cracking paint and mud.
Rabbits had always been the most common ones they found.
Jer closed his eyes and leaned forward, allowing himself to fall asleep with pleasant thoughts in mind. He was asleep in an instant, his breathing even and his muscles relaxed and calmed.
After ensuring himself that he had succumbed to sleep, Seito sneaked towards the boy, draping his ragged jacket over his shoulders. "Good night... brother," he whispered the words he had been longing to say for twelve long years.
"Sleep well."
--
Ky's legs swung over the edge of the fountain, the babbling of the water calming her tightened nerves. "Hey!" She looked up to see Corpse Kid waddle over to her, an excitedly confused expression on his face.
"Corpse Kid? What's up-?"
"Sora needs you, says it's really important, come on!" the boy tugged at her jeans as he said this. Ky raised an eyebrow before pushing herself off the fountain and getting tugged over to the Pumpkin Patch. The boy paused at the gate and looked up at her. "He doesn't want me to come in with you, but I'll be here if you guys need me, 'kay?"
Ky patted the boy's head and nodded. "Okay, thanks Corpse Kid." She gently pushed the gate open and proceeded down the winding path to the heart of the patch. The muffled sound of a motor slowly reached her ears, and she raised a delicate eyebrow.
"Sora?" she called. Red appeared from behind a pumpkin, goggles awkwardly crooked on his face.
"Oh, Ky! All clear!" he called, the muffled motor becoming louder. "Stand back!" he ordered, motioning with his hand. Ky quickly stepped to the edge of the path and watched in shock as a motorbike came crashing through the space she had been standing in half a second ago.
"THE HAY-?!" she screamed, watching it wind down the path before flipping a u and turning back towards her. The bike stopped several feet away from her, its spiky haired rider giving her a small wave.
"Hey, what?" Sora asked, wiping mud off of his face. Ky raised an eyebrow, before eying the bike.
"Is that-?"
"Mhm! Riku and Red and I finally got the ol' thing to work!" He patted the old handle bars. Ky walked around the bike, eyes wide and curiosity playing across her face. She fingered the old bike seat and looked up to meet her brother's eyes.
"I take it this is what will be doing most of the traveling?" she asked, fingers traveling across the soft seat. Riku groaned as he wiped his greasy hand across his forehead.
"No... Well... Not all of it-"
"RUN! RUN!"
Riku pulled Ky to one side as Sora wheeled the bike off the path. A blur of purple and white shot by. Ky turned her gaze in the direction it came from to see Link and Epona rush down the path. Link waved at her as he continued his chase down the path. "Uhm..."
"BARTLEBY!! STOP!" The purple blur slid to a stop in front of Ky, the white object flinging over the top of it. Fone Bone shook, clinging to the Rat Creature's ears. "Thanks..." Epona reared up close behind him and her rider dismounted.
Curiousity peaked, Ky walked over and timidly placed a hand on the mound of fur. "Uhm... Hello?" she tried. Two large, happy red eyes appeared, just above a large smile.
"Hiya, KyRea!"
Fone Bone rubbed his nose and glared at the cub next to him. "Geez... Oh, Ky, this is Bartleby, he's a Rat Creature." Ky blinked and tilted her head.
"Hi..." Bartleby's grin grew, showing his razor teeth, causing Ky to scutter back in fear.
"Oh, don't worry, he's harmless!" Fone Bone gushed, patting the creature's head. Link pulled Ky up and brushed off her back. "I figured you could use him... ya know... He could be really helpful!"
"Oh, yes! Please let me come! You can ride on my back, and I'm really fast!"
"Well...?" Fone asked. Ky timidly set her hand on Bartleby's head and began to scratch in between his ears. Bartley began to purr and nuzzle his head into her hand. A shadow of a smile flickered on her face.
"Sora?" she asked, looking up and letting her bangs fall into her face. The brunette shrugged.
"Why not? Extra protection for you..." Bartleby nuzzled his face into Ky's and smiled as he licked her face.
"Joy!" he cried. Ky released a small giggle, which in turn made Red and Link grin... It had been a long while since she laughed... or truly smiled, for that matter. Fone Bone grinned and patted his friend's head.
"So, I guess that takes care of all our traveling problems, right?" Link asked, patting Epona's nose and glancing at Bartleby. Red tapped his goggles in ponderance.
"I believe so, Ky-hum- Ky. I've got my hover board, Sirius' bike is in good condition and Riku and Sora have their bike and board," Red said, watching as Sora kicked the balance board out of the side of the bike. He grinned his goofy grin at his sister. "And you've got Bartleby."
As they began talking plans and ideas of when to leave, a shadow slipped away from the Pumpkin Patch. The Hanged Man ran to his tree, panic in his high pitched voice...
-
"SORA!!! SOOORRA!" Junior yelled, the load in his arms slowing him down. Mac struggled to keep up, his load threatening to fall out of his arms.
Harry took some of the bags and rushed ahead of them, magicing the gate open. "Guys! It's urgent!" he called, green eyes wild. The group spun around to face them, faces grim at the sight of the bags.
"What's goin' on?" Sirius asked, panic rising in their chests. Harry panted before looking up and answering:
"Jack knows. They're heading this way, Axel and the others are setting up a blockade by the gate! Hurry! You don't have a lot of time!" he said, helping Ky straddle the bag across her back. Junior handed her a hat and helped her tie a jacket around her waist. Her heart raced and bile rose in her throat; sickness came over her and her hands shook in nervousness.
Time seemed to slow.
She caught Bartleby's eye, and he pouted with his haunches raised in fear.
Red, Sora and Sirius had begun to yell orders to one another and quickly began to mount their vehicles. Link jumped up onto Epona and began to yell at Harry and Mac to join the others up ahead. They quickly complied and rushed away.
"HURRY!" a voice shouted from the gate. Junior kissed his cousins cheek quickly before running to help the barricade group.
Riku took her hand, "Are you ready for this?"
"I-I dunno... I'm-"
"Scared? Don't worry, we all do..." he interrupted and hugged her tightly before seizing her waist and mounting her on top of the Rat Creature. Fone squeezed her hand before giving her a weak smile.
"You'll be fine," he squeaked. Riku hopped onto the balance board, hand precariously placed on the shoulder of his best friend. Sora glanced at his sister and met her eye for a brief moment to give her the best smile that he could muster. Sirius revved up his bike simultaneously with Sora kicking up streams of dust.
"GO!" Red called, snapping his hover board's power switch. Bartleby launched forward, Ky's fingers tightly wound into his fur and she crouched perilously forward. "FORMATION A!"
"Aye-aye!" Sirius called, pulling up ahead of the youngsters. Sora and Epona ranked themselves and the flanks of Bartleby as Red took the rear. Bartleby's ears twitched and he supposed to Ky:
"Something's in the woods... it's fast... and tall..."
She froze, the air breezing past her and turned her gaze to the side where the Cub had tilted his head. Hair, whipped wildly into her face, obscured her view, but she knew what was stalking their tiny group.
"Uncle Jack..."
-
Mhm... I was on a rush all the time I was writing this! I should be studying for an AP World History test, but noooo, I loved you too much and wrote this instead!!
Bartleby is property of Jeff Smith!
