One Change - A KH "What If?" (DISCONTINUED/MOVED)

CoM(3)

"What do you mean, you can't find him?" Riku asked again.

"I mean I can't find him. I've searched everywhere, Riku." Kairi's eyes displayed her deep worry.

"Kairi, it'll be okay. Remember that trick you used to follow me through Hollow Bastion? Maybe we can do that for Sora."

Kairi nodded slowly. "Reach out with your heart. Like you want to see him super badly."

Riku nodded, and reached out, feeling for any sign of Sora.

"Whoa-" he stumbled backwards. It's so strong, but it's very faint. Hardly warm."

"Yeah, I feel it too. Maybe he's looking for us? Or he's trying to connect to us." Kairi hummed as she thought. "We should take one more look around town, just to be sure. And check everywhere, he hides a lot."

Riku nodded, and watched her run past the Accessory Shop.

He cleared his head and walked to the doors to the Third District, and pushed them open.

Riku concentrated on Sora again, opening the connection.

Nothing had changed.

Wait. Something did change. He looked up near the Vacant House, and thought he saw something.

Kairi had to know. Riku instead, focused on Kairi, and summoned a corridor of darkness, and watched as she fell backwards through it.

"What the- Riku!" She scolded. "You need to stop doing that, it scares me."

Riku chuckled softly. "Then get used to it. Anyway, look." He gestured up to where the area overlooked the rest of the District.

"I don't see anything."

"Open the connection to Sora."

Kairi closed her eyes, humming quietly. A few moments went by, and her eyes sprung open.

"Sora..."

Riku nodded. "This must have been where he... disappeared? Vanished?"

"Hm. Let's go check it out." Kairi smiled lightly, though her eyes gave away her worry.

"Hey." Riku put his hands on her shoulders. "It'll be okay. We'll get him back. I'm sure of it."

Kairi looked disbelieving. "Since when are you so vulnerable?"

Riku looked away, letting go and rubbing the back of his head. "I'm not."

"Sure." Kairi giggled. "It's okay to be vulnerable, Riku. You're my friend, I'd never judge you."

After a quiet moment, Riku cleared his throat and said, "we should, go up there."

Kairi nodded, and twirled up the stairs. Riku couldn't help but wonder how she was seemingly so happy when their friend was missing.

He put the thought away, following her up.

Kairi stared down at a spot with a look of astonishment and shock in her eyes.

"Sora. He was here." She whispered.

"How do you know?" Riku asked.

"The connection. Since Sora is reaching out for us, it's stronger. He was here. But, he was.... kidnapped."

Riku stared down at the spot. "Well, maybe we can use this to figure out how to get to him."

"I don't see how. We don't have a Gummi Ship, and we have no way of contacting Donald and Goofy."

"I could use a Corrior to get to them."

Kairi shook her head. "Their world is protected from the darkness. You wouldn't be able to get there."

Riku sighed. "Well, then what can we do?"

"It's Sora we're talking about. We have to do something, or else he'll think we've given up on him."