[fic] Kingdom Hearts 2, "Beach Party"
A little bit of light-hearted followup to Loose Ends (HAY spoilers for the end of game in that there link). Because the image I mentioned in the comments that I started with and couldn't get rid of? I still can't.

Beach Party
Kingdom Hearts 2
end o'game spoilers.



Sora made it late to the party. "Sorry about this," he panted, grinning at Kairi and Riku. "I got held up."

"We noticed," Riku said.

Kairi laughed. "Did you get in trouble?"

"No way," Sora said. Sneaking out in the middle of the night was the least of his problems, all things considered. "Hey guys. Hey, Namine."

"Hello, Sora," Namine said with Kairi's smile. "Hello, Roxas."

"Yeah, hi."

"So," Sora said. "Are we getting this party started, or what?"

"We've already got the bonfire going," Kairi told him brightly. "But... there's a small problem."

Sora walked with them around the bend in the beach. "Problem? What kind of -- what's Axel doing in the campfire?"

"No idea," Riku said. "But it's getting in the way of the marshmallow roast."

"Like I'm letting you have marshmallows without me," Axel said as they walked up. "And for the record, I'm meditating. Gettin' in touch with my inner spirit. Becoming one with the universe."

"I don't think you're supposed to talk as you meditate," Sora told him.

"See? You've gone and ruined it." The phantom shook his head, then flopped back, half in the sand, but still half in the campfire. "Sora, Sora, Sora. ...Okay, you caught me. I was actually haunting it. Maybe tomorrow I'll go haunt some rock or tree -- Oh uh. Hi, Roxas."

"...I want marshmallows."

Axel moved.

"Thanks," Sora said. "So, what're we gonna do?"

"We could play some music," Kairi suggested.

"Beach sports," Riku said. "Bet I could still outrace you."

Axel leaned forward, grinning. "Ghost stories."

"Oh come on," Kairi said, laughing. "Ghost stories because you're a--"

"I've got some good ones."

"Like they'd scare me," Riku said.

Axel quirked a brow at him. "Yeah, you had to go make yourself an exception, o dweller in darkness."

"Hey," Riku said, scowling. "Don't--"

"But I bet I've got some that would scare even you," Axel said, waggling a transluscent finger under Riku's nose.

Sora felt his eyes roll.

Riku scowled. "Try me."

Triumphant, Axel moved behind the campfire, looming a bit, arms up; the effect was slightly spoiled by the lack of a shadow, but the effort still stood. "I call this one," he intoned, "the Horror that Came From Marluxia's Laundry Basket."