Welcome to Gaia! ::

King Mickey laughed. "Alright then, follow me. We'll talk in the throne room." He turned and started to lead the way.

Hotaru looked at her, then turned his attention to the king. "Uh...actually I was wondering if I could contact Leon an the others soon."

King Mickey stopped and turned around. "Of course, but as you said, the heartless are back, and that's the more important thing. So strategics come first. Then you can contact the others." He was smiling.

Hotaru sighed. "Alright, guess it'd be better to let them know I've got a game plan.....I just hope Anna isn't to mad at me for leaving like that...." He muttered the last part.

King Mickey continued on leading the way. "I'll send word to have it ready for you."

Hotaru glanced at her, keeping his voice at a whisper. "Because I didn't want anyone to stop me.....tell you the truth, I'm still hurting from earlier." He shrugged, and looked at he king. "Thanks, and uh....how did you know my name?"

King Mickey just smiled, "Oh, that. Leon told me, and gave me a description of you. White and black hair, red eyes, slightly taller than average." He kept walking, and turned the corner. "He sounded quite fond of you too, they all did. You must be quite the person to get Leon to care so deeply."

Hotaru sighed. "Fantastic......that old softy....." He smirked. "So, you don't think I look freaky, right?" He asked to both of them, remember the first words out of Yuffie's mouth.

King Mickey laughed. "Hotaru, I've seen so much, you are remarkably normal to me."

He smirked. "I really don't care what people think of me." He shrugged. "I just don't really want to deal with people thinking I'm some sort of freak when I'm just trying to help them."

King Mickey stopped before these impressive doors. "Well, you certainly are strange. I can see why Leon is so concerned with you taking this on." He looked Hotaru up and down. "Now, before we start our discussion, I have to ask you one question." He waited for Hotaru to nod. "Excellent, now, if you would be kind enough to wait inside." He looked at A, and waited for her to enter the throne room.

Hotaru had given a nod of consent to answer a question. "Wait just a damn minute! She stays right by my side, I already told you that!" He grabbed A's hand. "No offense, but I don't trust this."

King Mickey looked stunned. "Don't worry Hotaru, she'll be perfectly fine."

Hotaru glared at king mickey. "Not on your life." He kept holding her hand, and moved slightly in front of her. "Not one step out of my sight."

Hotaru's shoulders slumped. "I know that A......"

King Mickey just nodded. "Thank you, A. Such a strange name." He looked at Hotaru. "Protective to the core, just as Yuffie and Cid said." He smiled, "Don't worry, no harm done." He looked at A. "We'll be in, in just a minute. Well, depending on how long he takes to answer."

Hotaru looked at both of them and turned slightly. "Right then, let's get this over with." He stuffed his hands in his pocket, knocking the charm off his sleeve with the force. "Stupid thing..." He muttered.

King Mickey looked seriously at Hotaru. "First things first Hotaru, pick that up, and do not ever lose track of it." He waited to continue till after Hotaru did so. "Now, I need to know two things Hotaru. One, Do you trust her with your life?"

Hotaru looked mickey. "Of course." he shook his head. "Why even ask, I wouldn't have brought her here if I didn't."

King Mickey smiled at that answer. "Very good then, the second question. What is more important to you, your life, or the mission you've been charged with."

Hotaru sighed. "Neither. I don't care if I die, or if I don't accomplish the mission." He shrugged.

King Mickey was shocked. "Then why rush here without a moments thought?"

Hotaru shrugged. "Because it's the way I am." He looked at the king. "Things are simple to me. If my life can save even one person, that's worth it. I fight with everything I have no matter what. If I'm not good enough, I'll go out with a bang to try to save those that I fight for."

King Mickey nodded. "I see. And just who do you fight for? With a statement like that, you must have someone in mind"

Hotaru nodded. "Yep, but that's not one of the two questions." He cocked a grin. "So, how bout we stop keeping A waiting, and get down to business." He started moving towards the doors.

King Mickey laughed. "I suppose it wasn't. Very well, but I do admit to being curious as to what your keyblade looks like. From what Merlin and Leon said, obtaining yours was very different than that of Sora."

Hotaru sighed. "Suppose it was.." He gave a shrug, and made Zero Chance appear. "It's apparently called Zero Chance, which suits me just fine, cause when I turn it on an enemy that's exactly what it's gonna have."

((Oh, wow, where to start? King, do you know?))

"Foolish boy," she whispered. She stood up and looked around the room as she moved away from the doors. 'Who would have thought I'd actually make it in here someday, hopefully they're not watching the castle.'

((Mmm. I think you forgot that Anna and Hotaru have feelings for each other, Hotaru has a mystery women who has now excepted the nickname A who is helping him fight the Heartless and has saved his life a couple times, and this mystery women is in fact Anna, but I'm pretty sure that's it... I hope.))

"Not at all," she told the King. "I managed to entertain myself. And getting to the point of this meeting would be nice."