[Name] II

Going Home, Part 3

Author's Note: Sorry this took forever to get out :(

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The rest of the police station left the next day.  They were supposed to check in with Cid while they were gone.  Friday soon rolled around and you found yourself with your friends in the hangout spot.

"Cid, have you heard anything from them yet?"  Genesis asked.  Cid sighed and shook his head.

"No, not yet."

"But they should've called in by now.  It only takes eight hours to go to the nearest island," you said with worry.  A tense silence hung in the air.

"Hey Cid," Vanitas said slyly.  "How many people can fit in that gummi ship of yours?"  Cid's eyes narrowed.

"What are ya gettin' at, kid?" 

"Just answer the damn question."

"It holds twenty people," Cid said gruffly.  Cloud turned to Vanitas and raised an eyebrow.

"What exactly are you getting at?"  Vanitas rolled his eyes.

"What I'm saying is, we can take Cid's ship to the islands and check up on the police force if we're all so worried."  Noctis furrowed his eyebrows.

"Isn't that a little dangerous?  We don't know what's out there."

"That's why we'll traveled armed, duh," Vanitas scoffed.  A murmur ran through the room as everyone thought over the idea.

"Well I know," Kairi said, speaking above everyone else, "that I couldn't let my friends be in danger while I sat here and did nothing."

"And if they aren't in danger, we can all spend our vacation on the island!"  Yuffie added.

"So we're actually going to do this?"  You asked.  Cid sighed.

"Since everyone seems so dead set on it, I guess I'll get the ship ready for tomorrow.  Everyone have their bags packed and be at the station by 8.  If you're late we're just going to leave ya."  With that, Cid gave a pointed look to Sora.

"Cid!  When am I ever late?!"  Sora protested.  Riku turned to Sora and replied.

"Almost all of the time.  You're constantly late to almost every event we plan."  Zexion nodded.

"I'm surprised you haven't been suspended yet for all your tardies."  For the rest of the night, everyone participated in a relaxed conversation.  As it got later and later, more and more people left to go home.  When you felt your eyelids begin to get heavy, you stood up and said goodbye to your friends.  You were about to climb the ladder leading out of the sewer when you heard someone jog up behind you.  Turning around, you saw it was Tifa.

"[Name], I was wondering if I could walk you home.  I have something I want to talk about with you."  You nodded.

"Sure, Tifa."  It wasn't until both of you were out of the woods when she finally began to speak.

"[Name], you're the only person in our group that doesn't have a weapon."  You were confused.

"You don't have a weapon, either.  We both just do hand-to-hand combat."  She nodded in understanding.

"That's true, but the gloves I used have been enhanced.  They act as both a shield and can also inflict as much damage as any other weapon.  You, on the other hand, don't have anything like that.  So I want to give you something."  Tifa explained that the "something" was at her house, so you would have to stop there before going back to your dorm.

When you both arrived at the quaint little house, Tifa motioned for you to wait in the living room while she went upstairs.  It wasn't long before she appeared again with a package in her hands.

"I want you to have this.  Inside are a pair of brass knuckles.  Like my gloves, they've been enhanced so they can protect you as well as do some major damage.  We don't know what we might run into, so I want you to be prepared," Tifa said as you took the gift from her.

"Thank you, Tifa.  This means a lot."  She shrugged and looked at the clock behind her.

"Anyway, I think you should head back now.  It's gotten pretty dark and we're leaving early."  You nodded and bid her farewell.

The cold morning air attacked your face as you stepped outside.  You, Yuffie, Namine, and Kairi were all walking together to Cid's garage, where everyone would meet before boarding the gummi ship.

"Do you guys know what island we're visiting first?"  Namine asked.

"I thought we were going to the nearest island and, if the police teams aren't there, we would go to the next nearest one and so on," you answered.

"I was actually wondering what the name of the island is," Namine clarified.

"Yeah [Name], get it together!"  Yuffie teased.  You rolled your eyes and smiled as the four of you headed to the meet the rest of the group.  The time flew by and soon you were boarding the ship.  Everyone's luggage was packed underneath in a storage compartment.  The seats of the gummi ship were arranged like the ones on an airplane and Cid piloted the aircraft in a cockpit separated from where everyone sat.

A hand swiftly took hold of your wrist and pulled you into the seat next to them.

"Hey Yuffie, what's up?"

"I was just protecting you from everyone," she said matter-of-factly.

"What are you talking about?"

"All the boys would be fighting over who got to sit next to you if it weren't for me.  Just imagine, poor, defenseless [Name] being left to fend for herself against a pack of hormone-fueled wolves.  Besides, we both know how they're always looking at you."

"Ummm, no. I don't know about that."  Yuffie's eyebrows shot up.

"Really?  Because most of the time they're not even subtle about it.  Huh...  Well I guess now you know that you're constantly being checked out."  You sat there with a blush on your cheeks as Yuffie began to harass the boys that walked by.

"That's right, Strife!  Keep walking!  There's nothing to see here, nothing at all!"

"Listen up!"  Cid announced on the intercom once everyone was seated, "The first island we go to is about eight hours away and it's a place called Phraxos.  Stay seated and buckle up.  That means you, Yuffie and Sora!"  The mentioned two whined as the gummi ship began to come to life.  You experienced a momentary feeling of weightlessness as the ship took off.

"Phraxos here we come."