A/N: Thanks so much for the reviews! This chapter was sort of sad to write, because I like writing playful fluff, and this wasn't it. But this was the way the characters interacted with each other, and thus this is the way the story shall flow.

Clackety Clack Clomp Clackety Clack Clomp

They were out of the town and finally on the road.

Riku was holding the reins while Sora was looking at the map. The wind tousled their hair.

"Four days of riding in this deep dark boring forest with a couple of pish-posh nobles until we reach the next village." Sora dryly commented. "These next few months will be a blast."

Riku shook his head. "Let's just hope we don't bump into any trouble this early on."

Sora rolled up the map and stuck it into his waist pouch. "Nothing will happen, Riku. You worry too much." Grabbing the bag beside him, he got up. "Guess I'll go check on the ladies. See what we have to work with."

Riku nodded. "Don't do anything stupid. And don't scare them."

Sora grinned impishly. "Who, me? I'm a professional, Riku." Before Riku could respond, Sora expertly jumped off the chariot and disappeared from his sight.

Knock Knock

The two girls jerked in surprise when they heard the knock. Namine and Kairi exchanged glances. The time had come. Namine took a deep breath.

"Come in."

The door slid open. It was the brunette.

Swinging into the cart and out of the speeding wind, Sora looked back and forth at them with an unreadable expression until Kairi cleared her throat. Bowing slightly, he introduced himself. "Princess Namine." He addressed the princess. "My lady." He looked at Kairi. "I am Sora Strife, one of the guardians who will be escorting you on your journey. The other guardian, Riku Stalvan is driving the cart, so please excuse his absence. You'll be able to see him at lunchtime. Before that, there are a few things we must discuss." He spoke politely, but there was a trace of boredom lacing his voice.

"Does any of miladies have travel sickness?"

Namine and Kairi both shook their heads.

"Good. From what we understand, speed is of priority, so unless something comes up, we'll be constantly on the move with the exception of hour long breaks during meal times, and at night." He gestured to the wall on their left. "If you need anything, let us know through that door over there. It's connected to the driver's chariot, so we'll be in reach at all times. If it's something small, just open the flap on the door. You'll find that it's a window."

He fell silent and just looked at them again. Under his scrutinizing gaze, Kairi and Namine began feeling uncomfortable. Finally nodding, he tossed them the bag that he had brought with him. When he spoke, his voice had a hint of contempt. "Like I thought, your clothes are too flashy. I thought it was made clear yesterday that we would be posing as not-too-well-off traveling merchants on this journey. A blind man wouldn't be fooled with those clothes. Change into these."

Kairi retrieved the bag and opened it to find plain cotton peasant clothes.

"Any questions?" Sora asked.

Namine shook her head. "Not at the moment."

Sora looked at her blankly. "Oh gods no. You speak like a princess."

Kairi stiffened at his tone. Slightly intimidated, Namine spoke quietly. "Is that a problem?"

"Yes. A huge problem. Try talking normally."

"Huh?"

"You don't need to shout to the world that you're a princess. You're a peasant. Try talking peasant."

Kairi frowned. "Sir, please do not talk to her in such manner."

He turned his attention to Kairi and groaned. "Not you too. I thought you spoke normally. Repeat after me: Sora, don't talk to her like that."

"Sora, don't talk to her like that." Realizing she'd instinctively done what he'd asked, Kairi clamped her mouth shut in irritation.

"Terrible. Never mind. Just don't talk at all if you can help it."

He moved on to the bags that the two ladies had brought with them. "These were friggin' heavy. Mind if I take a look?"

Kairi's cheeks heated up. "You would rummage through a woman's belongings?"

Even Namine looked embarrassed. "It would be better if you didn't."

Sora looked annoyed. "What's more important, your life and possibly the lives of your entire country or your fucking pride? We were hired to protect the former."

Namine and Kairi still seemed against the idea.

Sora sighed. "Look, I don't want to do this either, but we don't know the hell that we're up against, and what we do know is that the Heartless aren't exactly big fat fluffy teddy bears. If we don't know what we're working with and what we have like the back of our palms, we're not at our best. We need your full cooperation. May. I. look."

It wasn't a question.

Kairi asked bitterly. "Why ask if you're going to look anyways?"

Namine looked down at her hands. "Do what you need to do."

He opened the trunks and examined their contents. Unperturbed by the underwear and other embarrassing daily necessities for ladies, his expression became darker by the minute. "Half the things in here are nothing but a burden to the horses. And what is this?" He opened an expensive-looking box and saw letters from the palace all addressed to Princess Namine. He stared at the princess. She looked away. He handed the box to her and quietly shut the trunks. He got up to go.

"When we reach the village, we're selling all the fancy clothes and other overly-priced objects in your possession." He looked at Namine. "Princess, my first suggestion is that you memorize those letters and burn them. If you can't, then find a less conspicuous pouch to keep the letters in, and hide the pouch in a place I will never be able to find. If I ever see those letters again during this trip, they will burn."

He opened the door of the moving cart. The wind started playing with his hair again. Just before he was ready to swing out again, he gave them a look of disdain. "Get your acts together. You're not on a deluxe vacation to Disney Town. We can't protect you unless you're prepared to protect yourself. See you during lunchtime, Miladies."

He left, leaving Namine and Kairi dumbfounded.

"Back." Sora nimbly returned to his seat.

Glancing at him out of the corner of his eye, Riku said. "You weren't rude, were you?"

"Nope." Sora popped the 'p'. "I was professional."

In the cart, Kairi was fuming. After exhausting her vast knowledge of aggressive language, she finally plopped onto the floor in irritation. "It's not as if we've ever done this before! How were we supposed to know what to bring and what not to bring? Did he have to be so rude? The nerve of him!"

Namine was putting on the clothes given by Sora. "He was just worried it'll do us harm."

"It didn't seem that way to me."

"…I'm sure that's what it was," said Namine uncertainly.

"Like anyone would care what we have, or how we speak!"

"Put on your clothes, Kairi."

She stabbed an arm into the hole of the worn out dress. "He was just trying to spite us. That or he's a paranoid freak."

Namine swiveled around and faced the redhead. "It's his job to be paranoid. One wrong move and everything would have been for naught. He's right. It's not just our lives on the line, but our country's. Kairi, he's a bit harsh, but he's not a bad man. He could have ordered me to burn those letters right then and there and I would not have been able to say a word against it. Instead, he gave me a second chance. Through this encounter I have become more trusting of his competence. He's a sharp and thorough man, and someone who can see the value of things not only precious to himself, but to others. We have chosen well."

Namine turned her attention back to putting on her clothes. "He was doing his job perfectly. We weren't. And now, our job is to learn what we did wrong and not do it again. "

When the sun rose high into the sky, Riku pulled the horses over to a halt.

Stretching his aching back, he grumbled. "After lunch, you're driving, Sora."

Sora's eyes glinted. "Oh no, Riku. I won the duel fair and square."

"Dammit, give me a break, you." Riku turned around and knocked on the door connecting to the carriage. The small flap on the door was slightly lifted to reveal a pair of eyes peering up at him questioningly. Startled at the striking blue eyes, he lost his words for a moment.

"It's time for lunch, my lady. Whenever you're ready, please come outside."

The eyes signaled consent and the flap was let down once more.

Riku was building the fire while Sora was gone looking for more firewood when Namine and Kairi came out.

"Sir Riku?" Namine asked.

Riku straightened his back and glanced up. Once he realized who had called him, he stood to greet them. Gracefully bowing he said, "Please call me Riku, your highness. My lady." He acknowledged Kairi with a small smile and another bow. "Has the ride been comfortable?"

He had a calm and self-assured air to him that came as a comfort to both of them.

"Yes, it has."

The princess' voice was melodic. Riku smiled playfully. "It won't be once you've ridden there for days straight. Make sure you stretch your legs during meal times, your highness."

Sora returned with the wood and a chicken with a concussion. Setting down the firewood next to the older man, he said. "Hey, Riku, you won't believe my luck. I found this juicy fat piece of meat just lying around, begging to be eaten. Today's menu is roasted chicken. I'll get the things from the cart." Barely glancing at the ladies, he went towards the carriage.

Riku noticed the redhead glaring daggers at the brunette. "Is something wrong, milady? Do you not like chicken?"

Blushing, Kairi hurriedly looked away. "No, I like roasted chicken."

Riku mentally swore at his partner. Sora's despise for nobles was untameable. "Then it must be that imbecile. Whatever he did, don't mind him, milady. He means well, but he's an idiot. Next time he says or does something stupid, take the liberty to thrash him. A few clonks on the head will do him some good."

Kairi was very interested. "How many is a few?"

Riku grinned, "As many as he deserves. But beat him after lunch, because he's the chef today and I prefer my food not burnt."

...tbc

Oh noes! Off to a bad start, them Sora and Kairi...

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