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phoenix-downer · 1 year

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With A Smile Chapter 1

~2235 words. Sora/Kairi. Starts during the end of KH3 and moves into KH4. Sora POV. Angst, Romance, Fluff.

This story is dedicated to @tamtam88, and the art is by her as well! Thank you again for drawing such a beautiful piece and providing such wonderful inspiration 🥺 ❤️

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2

Summary: Sora and Kairi make their final stop on their world tour: home. Before he disappears, he gives her a special gift to remember him by, a paopu hair clip with a deeper connection to his memories than either of them realize.

Sora had taken Kairi to lots of worlds. All the things he wanted to see and do with her, all the experiences he wanted to share before he was gone. But he couldn’t delay the inevitable forever, and so at long last he took her to the one place he both loved and dreaded. He sensed Destiny Islands before he saw it: the sea-salt lingering in the air, the hot tropical sun beating down on his skin, the crash of the surf nearby.

“Oh, we’re home,” Kairi noted as they fully materialized, a tinge of sadness in her voice. She glanced at their surroundings. They were on the Main Island a little ways away from the Town Square, hidden behind a few scraggly bushes. The din of the yearly Ocean Festival drifted to their ears, and the smells of fried festival food, sweet candied fruit, and slow-cooked fish wafted towards them.

She released his hand and wouldn’t meet his eyes. “Does this mean…?”

He fumbled with the zipper on his jacket. “Yeah. I don’t know how much longer I have. But I promise I’ll make it through the festival and then to the Play Island. Everyone’s waiting for us.”

He was fighting fate every second just to stay a little bit longer. To remain just a little further into the future. And while he was fighting a losing battle, he still felt like he’d won. Being with Kairi was his personal triumph, his “reward” as Xigbar had so crudely put it.

Kairi wasn’t a reward, she was his most beloved person. And being with her? No reward could possibly compare. So fate would just have to wait a little longer until he was ready to say goodbye.

He looked at her and knew he never would be.

A few moments passed like this until at last she met his gaze and smiled. “Then I promise I’ll be brave until then.”

“Kairi…” There were tears behind that smile, an ocean of pain behind those big blue eyes. Her voice might be playful and lilting, but only so she could hide the tremor and terror in it.

She shook her head. “I can cry when you’re gone. But for now, I want to smile and enjoy the time we have left. What good is it if I spend the whole time you’re still here blubbering?”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’d like to be able to comfort you at least.” That was what a guy was supposed to do for the girl he was going out with, right? And he hated seeing Kairi cry. Especially when it was all his fault. He wanted to fix things, not make them worse.

She hummed softly, then clasped her hands behind her back in that playful Kairi way he loved. “Then let’s make some memories now that will comfort me later.”

He nodded. “Okay.”

She found his hand, and he still felt giddy holding her hand like this. It was so small and soft and gentle, so warm and reassuring. He’d even dreamed about this, and now that his dream was a reality, he couldn’t get enough of it.

She led him to the Ocean Festival, to the nearest food stall. A cute little octopus mascot advertised the takoyaki for sale, and he treated them both to a set of the fried octopus treat. The breaded part was nice and hot, and the octopus was fresh and delicious, just the way he liked it. They thanked the stall owner (an old family friend) before settling down at a picnic table with a checkered tablecloth on it.

Kairi made it partway through her takoyaki when she frowned and set it down. “Sora, do you think this is your last meal?”

Yes. “I can’t say I really thought about it,” was all he said out loud.

Kairi’s lower lip trembled. “It is, isn’t it?”

Now he was the one who couldn’t meet her eyes. Her pain was like a dagger to his heart. If he said something now, he might really lose it.

“Well,” she continued, her voice chipper again, “it’ll just have to be the best last meal ever. To tide you over until you can eat with me again.”

He smiled softly at that. That was Kairi for you, talking about when they would eat together again, not if. She’d never been one to let fate get in the way of what she wanted. He wished he could follow his heart the way she followed hers. He tried, he really did, but he had his moments of doubt.

Like right now.

She was not so easily perturbed. She put her hands behind her back and tilted her head in that delightful Kairi way again, making her hair splash across her cheek. “Well?” she playfully prodded. “What do you say?”

“Sounds good. A big meal to tide me over until I can eat with you again.”

He was rewarded with one of her smiles. “We’re gonna try every single food stall then! Make sure you get all your old favorites!”

He laughed. “Alright, alright.” She pulled him to his feet, and together they picked up treats and goodies from every single food stall and returned to the trusty picnic table. She teased him and challenged him to eat every last crumb of food, which he did till he reached the point he couldn’t possibly eat another bite.

She poked his stomach and giggled. “You sure about that? Sometimes I think you have a bottomless pit for a stomach.”

“I’m a growing boy,” he said, mock seriously. “What did you expect? I’ve gotta get taller than Riku somehow.”

She stilled, and he wondered if he’d said something wrong. “Kairi?”

She smiled, whatever it was that was bothering her gone now. “You can eat all you want, but I don’t know if you’ll ever be taller than Riku.”

He crossed his arms and raised his eyebrow, continuing their playful little game. “Wanna bet?”

She tapped her cheek and pretended to be deep in thought. “Hmmmm, I’ll bet you a date when we meet again.”

“Deal.” That was a bet he’d be happy to lose.

She rested her hand on her chin, her lips twitching. “But honestly, Sora, I don’t mind if you never grow any taller. You’re just the right size to make me feel perfectly safe when you hug me.”

His heart fluttered at that, and he felt his face burning. “Really?”

“Really really.”

“So…you like hugging me?”

She giggled into her hand. “I really, really do.”

He grinned. “I like hugging you too.”

“I’m glad you do.”

They just looked at each other for a few moments like they were the only two people in existence. Gosh, he was gonna miss her. He had no idea where he was even gonna disappear to, but so long as he was Sora he would long for Kairi, that much he knew.

“Kairi?” he asked, reaching for her hand so he could weave their fingers together.

She earnestly searched his face. “Yeah?”

“I, um, I…I…” He wanted to get the words out before he disappeared. Let her know what was in his heart before he was gone. It was the least he could do.

She smiled and shook her head. “Not yet. It’s not time.” She gently tugged at his hand. “C’mon, let’s go look at the trinkets.”

Once again, she led him to the stalls where old family friends were hawking their wares. A jewelry stall in particular caught his eye thanks to the little hair clip with a paopu fruit on display. Kairi was always tucking a strand of hair behind her ear because her hair tended to do its own thing when she moved around. Maybe this would be a nice gift for her.

He gave her some munny and told her to pick something out for herself from the clothing stall next door, which bought him time to make his purchase. She returned with a breezy tropical wrap that was varying shades of blue and captured the ocean’s hues perfectly. He complimented her choice and how nice it looked with her eyes, and she thanked him for the compliment and for the gift.

“So, mister,” she said as they strolled idly among the stalls, “what did you send me away for?”

“This.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small pink box. “I know it’s just a little thing, but I want you to have something to remember me by until I come home. It’s only fair when I still have your lucky charm.” He opened the box and handed her the paopu hair clip, and his hand flickered in and out of existence. Kairi’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears, but she smiled and took the gift from him.

“It’s so pretty, thank you.” She tucked her hair behind her ear. “Could you help me put it on?”

“Sure.” He reached for the hair clip, his fingers trembling a little as he grasped it and undid the clasp. Very carefully, he lifted it and caught a slender lock of her hair, then gently clicked the hair clip into place. Smiling, he took a step back and examined his handiwork. “Kairi, you look beautiful.”

A faint blush dusted her cheeks, and then she smiled so freely and so warmly and so openly that it caught him completely by surprise. Heat crept up his cheeks, and his heart pounded. Was she always this beautiful, or had his feelings for her made her even lovelier to him? Either way, this memory would be etched into his heart forever. She’d asked him to make memories with her that would comfort her later, but he was pretty sure this moment would be a comfort to him too.

“Thank you, Sora,” she said sweetly, then rested a hand over her heart. “I’ll wear it when I come for you.”

He tilted his head. “When you come for me?”

She nodded. “When I come for you. I don’t care how long it takes. I will find you and I’ll bring you home.”

He smiled. That sure was like Kairi, turning his declaration of protection on its head, telling him she’d come for him this time.

“Thank you, Kairi.” He reached for her hand, and together they enjoyed the rest of the festival. He never wanted this to end, but his time was growing short. He wanted to say goodbye to his parents before they went to the Play Island, and so she went with him for moral support. She was there, waiting patiently in the room a polite distance away, when he broke the news of his fate. And she stayed with him as he and his mother and father wept and embraced. He told them he’d be back soon, and he begged them to look after Kairi until then.

“We will,” his parents promised, and she smiled and nodded. He wanted to ask Riku to watch over her too, but he knew his friend already understood.

At last it was time to go to the Play Island. He simply opened a portal, and together he and Kairi went through it, reappearing at the paopu tree.

The sun was sinking low in the sky. Soon it would be dusk, and then all the light would be gone. His life would be gone too, and with it his time with Kairi.

He was determined not to cry. Their friends were celebrating just a little ways away, and he wanted these final moments with Kairi to be happy ones.

Together they sat on the paopu tree, and he smiled fondly remembering her boldness when she’d offered him the fruit. That boldness, that complete fearlessness in following her heart, had saved him. Had saved her too.

He offered his hand, and she took it. He wanted to hold her as close as could be, but he couldn’t do that and look her in the eye or see her beautiful smile. So this was a good compromise. And besides, he wanted to watch the sunset with her, hand-in-hand, side-by-side. Just taking in every precious moment. Home was here and home was her, and soon this would all be nothing more than a memory.

The clouds passed and the sun sank lower and lower in the sky, setting the entire world on fire with its golden light.

It was time. He smiled and gently squeezed her hand. “I love you,” he said. Funny how three simple words could express an eternity’s worth of feelings from deep within his heart. It felt so good to say them too, to share them with the person who meant more to him than anything.

Her eyes widened and her lips parted, as if his words had come as a surprise. But no, she wasn’t surprised, just overwhelmed. A single tear welled up out of her eye and ran down her cheek, shining brilliantly in the sunset. She smiled bigger than ever, so happy and sad at the same time.

Oh no, he’d made her cry. He hadn’t wanted to make her cry. But she’d been so brave for so long that she couldn’t help it. And that was okay. It was okay to cry. He just wanted to go out with a smile.

And so he did. As he faded from this reality, her smiling face was the final thing he saw.

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A/N: Thank you all for reading! And a big thank you to Tam for collaborating with me ❤️ She provided the story idea and drew the art piece that inspired the moment where Kairi smiles and Sora is just blown away 🥺 ❤️ And then some of her other art inspired moments in the next chapter which will be posted tomorrow for Valentine’s Day 👀 ✨

I had a lot of fun working on this one and I hope you all enjoyed ❤️ See you tomorrow!

#kingdom hearts #sokai #sora #kairi #sora x kairi #sora/kairi #tamtam88 #phoenix writes #phoenix-downer #kh fanfiction #sokai fanfiction #sorakai #sorakairi #long post #thank you again tam ❤️

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yzafre · 12 days

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we're flying above the valley below | ch 11

AO3

First | Previous

They didn’t leave Rapunzel’s world immediately. First, they had to determine who was going where, and explain the concept of the gummi ship to Rapunzel and Flynn. Then Sora gave them a message to pass on to Kairi when they got to Radiant Garden, before Donald reminded Sora he could just use his phone and tell her himself. Once Sora figured out the messaging system, Kairi reminded him he was supposed to ask Donald about the transformation magic, and then they had to deal with that.

After Donald handed off some enchanted charms, Sora headed over to give one to an impatient Ventus and tuck the others beside the new keychain that had landed in his pocket. Then, with one final wave, towards Donald, Goofy, Namine, Rapunzel, and Flynn, they finally headed off towards Yen Sid’s.

The trip was uneventful, both of them speeding along until the tower came into sight. Ven didn’t waste any time on landing, heading inside and up the stairs at a pace just shy of running. Heart aching, Sora did his best to keep up. Ven must be really worried about Aqua.

He… knew what that felt like.

Unfortunately, Yen Sid refused to help them reach the Realm of Darkness.

“Why not?!” Ventus protested.

“It is far, far too dangerous.”

“That’s why I should be there – she's my Flight, and she needs help. I can feel it.”

“And she will receive it – both Mickey and Riku are searching for her.”

“That’s not enough!”

“No?” Yen Sid asked, an edge of danger in his tone, “Two Keyblade Masters is not enough? A title which, I may remind you, you have not earned yourself.”

“Then test me!” Ven snarled

“Whoa – wait! Won’t that take too long?” Sora said, “I mean, our test took nearly a week; Riku’ll probably be back by then.”

This, finally, seemed to cut some of the wind from Ven’s sails, confusion dampening his frustration.

“What are you talking about? Aqua and Terra’s test took, like, an hour.”

“Wha – An hour?!“ Sora whipped back to Yen Sid, “What’s that about? Why was mine and Riku’s so hard?”

The sorcerer sighed, “There were powers I was hoping to awake in you, through your trip to the Sleeping Realms – ones that were instead found in Kairi. And as for your request, Ventus: if you had let me finish, you would also know that it is entirely beside the point. Even if you were a Master, I could not help you.”

“What do you mean?”

“The Realm of Darkness is not so easily breached. To date, it can be achieved in two ways: one, to travel through a rift formed when a heart, be it of people or a world, falls into Darkness. Two, to create a bridge with a Keyblade that contains ties to the other side. Without the Key Mickey holds, a doorway cannot be opened. And I assume you are not willing to cast a heart into Darkness, just to reach this other realm?”

Ven looked away mutinously.

Yen Sid nodded, “And so, even if your request was not helplessly reckless, I could not help you.”

Sora shifted awkwardly as Ven stared at the floor in silence. Behind them, the door cracked open.

A greeting brushed against Sora’s heart, soft and bright as the morning sun, and he spun, smile growing on his face.

“Kairi!”

“Sora!”

He reached for her, wings bursting from his back, one reaching forward to brush against hers as their hearts met, hello-I missed you. After a moment her eyes focused on something over her shoulder, and he felt her interest perk.

“Hello,” she said, stepping away from him, “It’s... Ventus, right?”

“Yeah! And you’re Kairi; it’s good to meet you in person.”

“Mm. You, too. I’m glad you made it back safely. How was your mission?”

“It was,” Ventus trailed off, eyes dropping to the floor for a moment before he answered, “It reminded me of home, in a lot of ways.”

“Rapunzel’s world was great!” Sora added, “I didn’t get to spend as much time with Donald and Goofy as I would have liked, but – oh, yeah! Kairi, here!”

He paused, digging through his pocket until he found the last charm Donald had given him, “I got these from Donald, so we uh. Don’t end up in a situation like with Buzz and Woody again.”

“Situation?” Ventus wondered.

“You know, when you get to a world and everything’s really different, and you’re not supposed to stand out, so the magic has to fix it?”

“Uh... sure?”

“You all have done well,” Yen Sid said, ending their chatter, “And I imagine we will need you again very soon. For now, however, feel free to take advantage of the guest rooms for the night and get some well-deserved rest.”

The sea met the shore, perfectly still, a flat plane of water stretching endless-endless-endless. The sky above reflected in its mirror-like surface. If he got close enough, it almost felt like he could step through, like he could fall, like he could –

A hand caught around his wrist, preventing him from stepping out into the sky.

“Don’t.”

His heart somersaulted its way into his throat, then fell back down, landing in the pool of unease in his stomach. That was close. The hand on him was steadying, tamping down the fizzling nerves from his near miss, and he turned to thank his savior, only to cut off in surprise.

“Oh,” he breathed, “It’s – you.”

It was the girl, the one Roxas cared so much about, the one the runaway replica looked like – he could just barely see the edges of her face, familiar blue eyes staring out from beneath the hood. She looked back to the water, letting go of his wrist.

“If you go out there… You’ll be lost. And I don’t have the strength to pull you back.”

“Uhm, okay,” Sora said, following her as she moved away from the edge and sat down. He dropped to the ground beside her, digging his toes into the sand. The last few times he’d felt her power, it had been so fragile – and then there was all that business with the replica…

“Hey, are you alright? After what happened in San Fransokyo, I mean. You seemed scared.”

She curled further into herself, burying her chin in her knees.

“That ‘you’ we fought… it was a replica, the one Axel was trying to find for Naminé, right?” he prodded, “I guess the Organization did something to it.”

“When the Organization made me,” she started – quietly, so quietly, “I was made to steal power from you, and from Roxas. Just by existing, I was hurting him. If I fell into their hands, now, it would just happen all over again.”

“I guess, but… didn’t Naminé make the new body? Riku said she was trying to help you.”

She didn’t answer immediately. Sora dug trenches in the sand.

Finally, she spoke up, “I saw something, when we touched. It felt like a memory, except… I didn’t remember it, not at all. It… no. I won’t be a tool for them. I won’t. It’s not worth the risk.”

For a long moment they sat together, listening to the wind in the trees – though the waves were conspicuously missing.

“Hey,” Sora said finally, “I don’t think I caught your name, last time.”

“My name… I see.”

She stood, walking out to the edge of the water, staring out at it as she twisted her hands together, over and over. Finally, she sighed, turning to him with a sad smile.

“My name is – “

“Sora?”

With a jerk, Sora woke, blinking blearily through the sunlight doing its best to blind him. A soft hand shook his shoulder once more, a shadow moving between him and the window.

“Sora. C’mon, wake up.”

“I’m awake, Kairi,” he mumbled.

“You sure? You don’t sound awake.”

Grumbling, he rolled over, grabbing his pillow as he went and half-heartedly smacking it into Kairi’s shoulder. She just laughed, pulling away and tugging at his blanket.

“Come on, breakfast is ready. It’s time to get up.”

Yen Sid sent the three of them off soon after they ate with coordinates to a world that had steadily growing Darkness readings. Apparently, it had been that way for a while, but had flown under the radar until it suddenly spiked while they were rescuing Rapunzel.

It was a good thing he’d gotten the charms from Donald, because the moment they arrived he felt the magic wash over him. Though, maybe that wasn’t such a good thing.

“You really gotta stop being so jumpy,” Kairi teased.

“I can’t help it,” Sora whined, “I keep seeing you guys out of the corner of my eyes, and it creeps me out!”

“Oh, so you’re saying I’m creepy?”

“Yeah – I mean, not you, but – “

And then there were the locals – though, after the initial confusion over the little girl they had with them, Mike and Sully weren’t so bad. That was made even more obvious when the real monsters showed up.

When the last of them were defeated, Sora squinted at the place where they disappeared into dark smoke.

“Those... weren’t heartless,” Sora said.

“No,” Kairi said, coming up beside him, “Not Nobodies, either.”

“Then, what could they be? Any ideas, Ven? ….Ven?”

Ven startled, gaze snapping over to them, and Sora had to hold back a flinch. There was a dark pit behind the other boy’s eyes as his gaze bored into them, like the rumbling of a storm growing.

“Unversed,” Ven said heavily, “They’re unversed. They’re… they shouldn’t be here.”

“What do you mean?”

“The unversed aren’t just monsters, they’re fragments of Vanitas. For them to be here, that would mean he would have to be... but I beat him. That part of me should have been reabsorbed.”

“I dunno about all that,” Sora said, drawing his words out, “But the Organization is using time travel to bring back a lot of people we defeated before. Maybe they did the same with this guy?”

“Maybe,” Ven allowed, but he didn’t look happy with it.

Sora exchanged a worried glance with Kairi, all unsure-concern-what-to-do?

Kairi shrugged, and they both watched as Ventus stared darkly into the factory.

The first order of business was getting the little girl, Boo, back home. A fight like this was no place for someone so young. As they made their way through the factory the unversed dogged at their heels, constantly getting in their way. Further, they’d also caused chaos throughout the warehouse, sending machines on the fritz, blocking pathways, and generally forcing them to make endless detours.

None were more heart-stopping than when a scream echoed through the warehouse.

“It came from this way!” Sully called, leading the charge forward.

“What? No one’s supposed to be here – the factory’s closed!” Mike protested between pants, struggling to keep up with the Keyblade wielders.

“So why are you here?” Kairi asked.

“That’s - none of your business!”

They were lucky the storeroom had been mostly empty, as what was stored inside was absolutely wrecked by the time the unversed were defeated.

“There’s no one here,” Kairi observed, looking around at the remains of broken, empty palettes, “Do you think whoever screamed was taken?”

“But, that door was the only way in. Could they have teleported them, somehow?”

“No,” Ventus cut in, “Unless something’s changed, that’s not something the unversed can do.”

Sora frowned, “Then... where did they go?”

“I think I have the answer,” Sully called.

They gathered around as he held up a punctured metal cannister, teeth marks all around the open hole. Mike scoffed.

“Ugh, scream canisters. I thought we dealt with all of those.”

“We must have missed some.”

“Scream cannisters?”

As they moved on again, the two explained the history of the company – how they’d once used something called “scream power” for energy but had since changed to using laughter instead after a series of misadventures with Boo.

That mystery taken care of, they returned to trying to find Boo’s ride home – though, it seemed to be taking an unusually long time, even with all the obstructions.

“Wait, how’d we take a wrong turn?” Mike muttered, and Sora sighed, slumping over. So they had been going in circles – it certainly felt like it.

“Who cares? All that matters is that it’s the last turn that you losers are ever gonna take.”

Who?

When they turned, another monster – of the local kind, not their usual kind – was standing behind them. Mike and Sully seemed to know the slime-ball jeering at them, some kind of history surrounding their past adventures with Boo.

“How did you even get back here?” Mike protested, “The door we sent you through is sawdust.”

“Yeah, and I almost got turned into somebody’s wallet,” Randall snapped, “But that’s not the only door out there.”

Sully frowned, “There are protections in place to keep things from coming through – and they’ve only been improved since you were banished.”

“Perhaps. But none of that means anything to my benefactor. And in exchange – all he wants is for me to get him more energy. And lucky for him, that’s what I’m good at. Top of the leaderboard, baby.”

“You? Collecting laughs? Now that’s funny.”

“Laughs? Don’t be stupid. I’m after negative emotions. And my new friends have kindly invaded the factory to get ‘em for me.”

“Negative emotions?” Ventus repeated, and Sora froze at the tension running through his voice, “Vanitas. He is here. Where is he?”

Randall clicked his tongue, “Not familiar with the name, but if you mean my new friend – why on earth would I tell you? Not that it would matter if I did. After all…”

He flickered out of vision, and they all grouped oup, observing the room tightly. A moment later, his voice came over the speaker, “You’re not getting out of here alive. We’re in control of this factory now, and I suggest some improvements. Still, I’d love to see you try. Your despair will be an excellent start to my collection.”

#kh #kingdom hearts #fanfiction #wingfic #wrap your wings au #Yza writes a thing #I'm going to be away from the laptop tomorrow #so I'm posting the chapter a day early

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fragmentsofsorrow · 9 months

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3, 9, and 18

(two of my favorite fics of yours are Maybe Some Things Are That Simple and Not Your Sacrifice. Wholesomeness, heartbreak, and Xion: my three favorite things)

3. What’s a fic idea that you have but haven’t written yet?

there's a few of these floating around but the most well developed is probably my Nobody Ven AU

so the short version is Castle Oblivion gets a little confused and ends up letting Naminé into the Chamber of Waking, because the Castle was activated to keep a keyblade wielder safe, and Naminé—who has keyblade potential via Kairi—is very much not safe. it then mistakes Xemnas for Terra and lets him find Waking, with both Naminé and Ven inside. Ven's heart is occupied with Sora things (or I guess it'd be Roxas things at this point) but Xemnas is able to wake him up without it, i.e. as a nobody. and since the Organization happens to be two members short after Marluxia and Larxene's betrayal...

(side note: do you know how hard it is to come up with a good Organization name for Ventus? it's hard. it's quite easy to find bad ones though! I ultimately settled on Sunvext, which I do really like but really ended up going with because it's the only reasonable option I found in however long I spent looking for one)

anyway, my goal with this AU is a lot of character exploration, mostly of identity and trauma and how they interact

I want to dive into the identity stuff that comes with Xemnas not being Apprenticenort who was in turn neither Terra nor Xehanort despite being made from both of them. Naminé being around also gives me more options to explore re: Xemnas and the memories he doesn't have, especially since she's been canonically shown to be able to reach out and connect to Terra before he was restored, and that sure has implications when it comes to Xemnas

having Ven's nobody around gives me some interesting things to work with re: him having first had Vanitas's and then Ven's heart both pulled out of him and him trying to figure out what's even left behind for him to be. and also since he's in the Organization, Roxas also being there not only opens up more identity issues but also, Roxas literally passing out from being near Ven's body is a thing

I also want to get Aqua out of the Realm of Darkness. not before she starts losing herself to it, though, because I love exploring Aqua's relationship to darkness whenever I have the chance. but also what is it like to be the only one of your family/friends to have a whole heart? what does it mean when she's technically the only one with darkness in her heart as a result?

plus this opens up the Wayfinder Trio Sibling Dynamic But Slightly to the Left, which raises the question: what happens to an unbreakable connection when you break everything around it but leave the connection intact? they're still a family, in a way; one of them is missing a heart, one of them got possessed and then got amnesia and then became a nobody, and one of them has a heart being overtaken by darkness. but that connection sure was unbreakable

ultimately the whole thing is about trauma and how to heal and recover from it when it's completely changed who you are as a person and learning that you don't owe it to who you were beforehand to try to become them again and figuring out how to move forward as the person you are now

why is literally everything I write about identity issues in some way

9. What’s your favorite line(s) or scene(s) that you have written?

answered here!

18. Recommend someone else fic! (And tag them if they have a tumblr!)

I have a text document I just keep filling with kh fic recs and I just. can't find it for some reason. and I don't want to just leave this ask in limbo where it'll get buried in my drafts and I'll inevitably forget about it, so. rain check on that fic rec instead?

#q&a #alphascorpiixx

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minijenn · 5 months

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I've finally found time to read chapter 13 of Journey to the Past! It was worth the wait! I could really feel Riku's anticipation to see Kairi again, and his heartbreak believing that he'll have to say goodbye to her and Sora once they're reunited. I love how described both boys noticing Kairi's beauty, as well as her sadness. Kairi and Sora lashing out at Riku was a crushing blow, and knowing Xehanort is on his way, things don't look good. Whatever Axel has planned, I hope he gets there soon!

Glad you liked it! I've been looking forward to this chapter for awhile now, to the moment where it all fell apart between Sora and Riku. But of course, that means that the next chapter is where our prince and princess finally reunite, and let me just say, its one of the chapters I'm most excited to write out of them all... :3

#reviews

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claidi · 2 years

Text

Sometimes, they find stuff on the play island.

In the shack, Riku found a series of lines scratched on the doorframe. At first they appeared random, starting off a few feet from the ground before progressively getting taller. Wakka was the one to figure out that each line at the bottom was the height of a child.

"It's someone growing up, yeah?"

When Selphie dug a hole to hide Tidus's wooden sword, she found a closed cooking pot and abandoned her scheme to go tell Kairi. The girls had Sora open it and they all shrieked at the sight of a mummified cooking accident. It looked burned and smelled nasty.

"Let's wash it out and take a closer look." Riku bent down and poked it with a stick. "How old do you think it is?"

"I'm not touching that!" Selphie shook her head.

"Maybe it's from another world." Riku glanced to Kairi. She shrugged.

Another time, Sora found a carved wooden toy near the secret place. It looked like a little person holding a weapon that had mostly broken off. The face was a rough smile with a crack in it's nose.

"Do you think someone lost their toy?"

"We could ask around." Kairi inspected it closely. "But it looks old. Maybe your parents have seen it before."

But, no matter who Sora asked, he couldn't find the owner. After a while, he traded it to Riku for a cool bracelet and forgot about it.

Of all the kids though, Kairi found the most. Scouring the beach for shells tended to uncover a lot. She discovered old glass bottles now full of sand and chipped. She made a necklace from a few old forks she'd dug up. A few shells seemed to be painted.

"Who do you think lived here?" She asked. The pieces were lining up. Riku hummed, giving it real thought.

"Whoever it was would be really old. I mean, who'd live on the play island? It's tiny."

"They left." Sora said abruptly. His friends turned to face him.

"What?"

"Huh? Oh." Sora rubbed the back of his neck. "I just feel that they didn't want to stay. I mean, they're long gone now."

"Maybe they went back to their own world."

"But someone grew up here, wouldn't that make this their world?" Kairi narrowed her eyes, almost daring an argument.

"We don't know if the height chart was the same person as the one who left all the other stuff." Riku sounded all too reasonable. "That could have been other island kids."

"Maybe..." But it was clear from Sora's tone he didn't believe it.

"One day, I'll find them."

"How will you recognize them?" Kairi cocked her head to the side.

"Their bad cooking?" Riku shrugged, "I'm not sure yet."

Sora yawned and then rubbed at his eyes. He wanted a nap.

"If you do find them, do you think we'll need to give all their stuff back?"

"Nah. If anything they need to apologize for leaving their junk everywhere. We shouldn't have to clean up after them."

Both of Riku's friends shrugged. It was just part of life.

#ficlet #kingdom hearts #kh dark road #kh #maybe ill clean this up and stick it on ao3 #idk

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valorxdrive · 10 months

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“ Sora... can I? ”

It’s said so quietly that only from an instance so close and intimate, as lying with arms and legs intertwined can it be inferred. That any looker-on in this moment of peace would be forced to crane their necks and widen the ears, only for efforts to be in vain. These are words meant only for them -- only for him -- much so he seemed to understand its meaning almost immediately.

When his palm exposes to her, she gives him that knowing smile before letting the curtains of her lashes come to their close. In total peace does her body fade away in a flurry of sparkles, all of them scattered and zipping about, until they gather and collect into the safety of his hand.

In this vulnerable state she is held within his palm, glowing gently for him... brightening in incriments the closer he draws her in, and she trusts him to take her into the one place, cosmos to cosmos, she felt safest. With him, deep inside.

One heart.

[ sneak attack soft from @maregiis ]

Maybe it was a brand of selfishness that sparked this very ability. To take wounds woven from the past, to let them find a way of embracing this as a tender, indulgent power as sometimes the matter of their physical connection simply wasn't enough. No matter how much his fingers adorn flowing through her scarlet hair, or the way her soft breath tickles at the nape of his neck as those arms selfishly claim their dominion upon them.. the concepts that create Sora and Kairi simply knew.

There was a particularly addictive quality to the level of completion of forgoing their corporeal forms, and to allow the perfection union within their eyes to manifest whenever they gained privacy. Sora's eyes burn with tender adoration as he faces her, looking at the tremble of excitement that balances with her peaceful expression. "I want it too, Kai. To feel it.." No more straying, no more looking away, the selfishness they decisively danced around in the name of greater goods would be wholly taken in.

Allowing one of his tanned hands to extend forth, to allow that welcoming gesture with his calloused fingers would signify enough, expectation finds itself glowing within his sky lit eyes as his Heart of Hearts was already transmitting that wavelength, a special song dedicated to Kairi's being, a song dawn entirely from their union from the day the islands fell.

The day she helped bolster that invincible and kind courage that turned him into a champion.

"I got you."

A sudden wave of force finds itself rolling like the most secure blanket within the surroundings as she disperses. What was once a view that struck a cold terror down his spine was replaced, gentle expectation, eagerness, a desire to watch her experiment with the most intimate boundary that serves as her greatest strength. Briefly letting his eyes ebb shut, he'd instead focus on feeling, letting the great potential that sleeps within find a means of stirring awake, dotted in streaks of gold and crystalline pink as it begins to focus upon the latter color.

Settled within his palm would be the forged essence of his most precious weight. An unconscious and prepared smile blooming bright, so familiar to the very look that helped steer away the darkest fears of her nightmares. Taking the form of a flower forged from crystal, the view in itself found itself as overwhelming as it did upon his first encounter, where the greater universe lies, and countless, golden keyholes sparkled like stars in the sky.

This time, he answers to the magnetic pull that found itself barred from their duty once before.

Bringing both of his hands forth in order to tenderly cup the gentle radiance that shimmers and spills from his palm, the urgency of his heart trying break from the beyond to meet her's had to be tempered, calmed, as his physical form would bring Kairi's being directly to his chest, allowing for the joyous dance of their souls as surge of pure, unbridled power begins to erupt within in waves. Her light would find itself tucked safely in the waves of cerulean power, glittering with scintillating wonder as their hearts would become one.

Caring so little about the outside world in this moment, his eyes carefully close shut, all expectation cast to the wayside as darkness would await him. No. Opening the eyes of his greatest strength reveals a new sight, a natural blend of their inner worlds that contently take the form of the Sky and Sea.

And that's where he'd find her, safely set within his arms while those same strong extremities of her's were securely fastened around his neck. Relaxation would draw the slackness of his spiritual body as he relaxes against her, losing himself in the way they float in completion.

Oh did he sorely miss this.

"Welcome home."

@maregiis

#maregiis #| Bottle Mail #i wanted to take my sweet time in #ensuring this was sweet as could be

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atomic-taco-muffin · 2 years

Text

The Legend of Hana Chapter 121

Warnings: We’re in Re:Mind now. And y’all can just tell it’s more angst with the slightest bit of fluff

Rating: SFW

“This is...” As far as Sora could tell, this was only his second time to this place, this world of sky and sea. But unlike the last time he was here, Sora was whole and no different than normal. Then, two speck of light drifted down from the sky, calling out a cute and very familiar voice. “Chirithy, Monomi.”

“Back so soon?” Chirithy asked.

“What’s wrong?” Monomi asked.

“Well...” Sora explained everything that happened up to that point, and about how he wanted to find Kairi. For Rumi and Ventus. A troubled look came over Chirithy’s and Monomi’s faces

“Even with the power of waking, you can't just bring someone back,” Chirithy said.

“But how was I able to save Hana then?” Sora asked.

“Through the bond the two of you have. With Kairi, it’s just doesn’t seem possible,” Monomi explained.

“But Kairi's heart hasn't been lost yet. She's still with us, right? Like Hana?” Sora asked desperately.

“Maybe, but this time, I'm afraid the situation is a lot worse,” Chirithy said, its paws holding its head. Sora had seen Kairi’s physical body shattered with his own eyes--but that didn’t mean her heart was done for, too.

“Hey, I've already restored six hearts. What's one more?” Sora said.

“But that's not how it's supposed to work at all. The power of waking is meant to be used to wake and restore sleeping hearts, not to restore them after they've completely faded away from existence. You've done that six times before, and as a result, you've managed to greatly alter the course of history itself,” Monomi warned. “You've broken a nature taboo.”

“Taboo...?” Sora repeated the unfamiliar term.

“A forbidden act. Break a taboo of nature, and you'll end up paying an extraordinary price,” Chirithy explained.

You’ve paid the price. And it lies at the bottom of the abyss

Junko had said something similar in San Fransokyo, back when Sora was tracking down everyone’s hearts. It was like an omen.

“I've heard that before... So what's the price?” Sora asked.

“You'll lose your powers. You won't be able to use the power of waking,” Monomi warned.

“That's all? No problem,” Sora smiled. Chirithy and Monomi still had a grave look on their faces.

“But that's not all. You yourself...will vanish from this world. And without your powers, you can't return to the world you came from,” Chirithy said. That gave Sora pause. But he soon fixed Chirithy and Monomi with a determined gaze.

“I don't care,” he said.

“What?!” the two creatures squeaked in shock.

“There's a lot I don't understand, but I know that this is all I can do right now. I have to do everything I can to get Kairi back. That's the whole reason behind my journey. Besides, I haven’t seen Hana since she was stabbed. She needs me.”

“...We can't stop you, can we?” Monomi asked.

“Nope, I have to follow my heart,” Sora said back with a grin.

“Hmm... Well, then this really is good-bye, so listen carefully to us,” Chirithy said.

☽✧☽✧

Sora indicated he understood, then allowed his Keyblade to open the way forward. As he traversed the roads of time, Sora thought back on what Chirithy and Monomi had told him.

Italics bold = Monomi. Italics = Chirithy. Italics blockquote = both

You'll return to the past again, but you won't be able to rewrite it this time. No matter what happens, you have to accept it and move on.

Sora found himself standing in the Keyblade Graveyard back when all of them had just arrived, right before Ventus spotted Terra. Chirithy’s and Monomi’s advice continued to run through his mind.

The heart you have now, it already existed during that time. It went back into that past earlier. Nothing can change that fact. The place where you'll return is the tear in the fabric of time that was created when you changed your destiny, then changed it once again.

In order to not stray too far from the true power of waking, you'll enter and pass through the hearts of the guardians, until you reach Kairi's heart.

Terra arrived, and Ven, Lily, and Era ran over to him.

Every emotion that each of the guardians felt... sadness, anxiety, fear, kindness. Everything they saw, and everything that they felt then, you'll clear a way through it, traverse across their hearts, and dive ever deeper inside.

Then Aqua, who had been wary of Terra from the moment of their reunion, took Ventus, Lily, and Era and hid them behind her. This was another scene from the past Sora had witnessed firsthand.

We can't be sure what's waiting for you at the end, or what you'll actually be able to do, but by following the connection of hearts, you'll come to discover a greater truth--one that's sure to help you.

Terra’s hair turned silver, revealing that he was Terranort all along.

But...in this flow of time in the past, you'll only have up until the moment you left for this place, so you'll have to find and restore Kairi's heart before then. That's all the advice we can give you. Beyond that, we can only say...

...may your heart...be your guiding key.

Up until that moment, Sora had been inside his past self, but when Terranort struck Ventus and stabbed Hana with his Keyblade, he made his exit. And as he did so, he noticed a small glimmer near his chest.

“This...is Ven's heart...” he said. When Ventus lost consciousness, his heart had come here. Sora tried to speak to the light, and he found himself in a dark, dark place. A place that greatly resembled the one he had dreamed of before his journey began, in fact. He tried calling out to Ventus, but had no luck. When Sora came to...he was standing alone on the wastes of the Keyblade Graveyard. None of his friends were there for some reason. The darkness that had taken over him was gone, too--but not for long. This time, it flowed into a vortex that gradually transformed into a Heartless with swords in each hand--Dark Inferno χ. Sora blocked its first attack and shoved the swords away, then delivered a blow of his own with his Keyblade. While Dark Inferno χ put up a tough fight, Sora was still able to defeat the monster. It left this world just like a normal Heartless would--in a flash of light.

“That's it!”

“Axel!”

“No! Sora!”

“Donald, don't!”

“Zettaflare!”

“Ven...” The last voice Sora heard clearly--it belonged to Aqua. Suddenly, Sora was back where it all began, in that dark place inside the heart.

“Is this...Aqua's heart?” Sora asked as he looked around. While Ventus’s heart had been peaceful, Aqua’s...was full of fear. Still inside Aqua’s heart, Sora found himself back on the wasteland. “This can't be real.”

“Pull it together, Sora! We haven't lost them. They still have their hearts. Hana will pull through. But we have to protect everyone else first,” Riku said as more Heartless appeared. This was another scene from the past.

“It can't be... No...” Aqua whispered as she looked up at the Demon Tower. The terror within her poured into Sora, and through the eyes of her heart, Sora could see an army of Anti-Aquas flying through air.

“So...this is the fear and despair that Aqua feels...And now...I feel it too,” he said. The Demon Tide swept over both of them, and then...Sora and Aqua stood on the Dark Margin. The Anti-Aqua with eyes of glowing gold lunged for him. Sora caught the terrifying Anti-Aqua’s attack with his Keyblade, then fought back with spells and strikes on his own. Before long, Anti-Aqua lay defeated, and the light overtook him and the real Aqua again. Once more, Ventus, Lily, and Era spotted Terra--or the one they believed was Terra. But when Sora opened his eyes, all he saw was that same dark space. Sora was still wondering what was going on when a light drew near, gentle and peaceful. He soon saw that it was actually a girl.

“Sora?!”

“Naminé?!” Yes--it was Naminé. Roxy’s first love.

“What are you doing here? Have you lost yourself, like I did?” she asked, hovering in Sora’s heart.

“Well, it's a long story. But tell me, why haven't you returned to Kairi's heart yet?” Sora heard Terranort’s declaration from somewhere outside this dark place and knew what was about to happen. The pale light of this realm illuminated both of them as he spoke to Naminé.

“Because...I'm still not able to. But...I'm calling out to Terra's heart, and I brought him here,” Naminé said.

“Terra?”

“No, Terra's heart...is too steeped in darkness. Instead, I've brought out Terra's most personal and powerful thoughts. This is Terra's sadness, anger, lament...”

“Terra's thoughts...?”

☽✧☽✧

Beyond the dark place, the Lingering Will had made its entrance on the field of the Keyblade Graveyard. It was the manifestation of those powerful thoughts of Terra’s, and Naminé had led it here. The Lingering Will stopped in his tracks.

“Wretched spirit!” Terranort spat. The Lingering Will responded by holding out his Keyblade.

“As long as Master Xehanort resides within you, you're a threat to Aqua, Lily, Era, and Ven,” he said.

“How noble, you would give your life for theirs?” Terranort sneered. The Lingering Will then charged. Terranort did the same and the two came together with a vicious clash.

☽✧☽✧

As Sora stood beneath the pale light with Naminé, he could hardly stand to just watch.

“Naminé, can you call out to Terra?” Sora asked.

“No, his rage is too strong. He won't respond to me,” she answered, unable to conceal her own anxiety.

“No matter who gets hurt, it's bad for Terra. Either way, you have to leave. Go to the world of ocean and sky.”

“And you?” Sora turned back to Naminé and flashed a grin.

“I got this,” he said.

☽✧☽✧

“Begone!” Terranort shouted. In the same instant, the Dark figure rose up behind him and seized the Lingering Will by the head, trying to crush its helmet. That was when Sora returned to the world in a blinding burst of light--and just in time, by the look of it. Sora charged in at lightning speed and knocked the Dark Figure away with enough force to scatter it into mist.

“How can you be here?!” Terranort exclaimed as he regained his balance.

“Hey, I can travel to different times too, you know. Did you think you were the only one with that power?” Sora smiled.

“You dare...!” The flippant explanation had Terranort trembling with rage. He hurled himself at Sora with ferocious speed. Though he wore Terra’s body, his moves and skill with a Keyblade were all Xehanort. His Keyblade met Sora’s with terrible momentum, enough to drive Sora to one knee. While Terranort had his attention, the Dark Figure suddenly rose behind him, taking in to deliver what would most certainly be a fatal blow. But then, he was shielded from the attack. The fatal blow meant for Sora shattered the Lingering Will’s helmet, and the rest of the armor fell to pieces that vanished in a brilliant burst of light.

“Terra!” Sora cried.

“Seeing that you have also taken the forbidden path, you too must be ready to make the ultimate sacrifice,” Terranort said with an arrogant smirk, then swung his Keyblade toward Sora creating a dark wave. Sora withstood the attack, and when it dispersed, there was Terranort right in front of him. With a laugh, Terranort struck Sora with his Keyblade and sent him flying back. But as soon as he landed, Sora quickly jumped back up and got right back into the fray. Sora was about to land an attack of his own when the Dark Figure intervened. Sora fired off a spell, taking the Dark Figure out of the picture and allowing him to focus on Terranort. The battle didn’t last much longer. Terranort staggered back, exhausted for the moment--but not entirely. He let out a roar, calling the Dark Figure forth again to attack Sora.

“Darkness awaits you!” he shouted with rage as the Dark Figure grabbed Sora and lifted him off the ground. Sora could see the darkness billowing upward from the enemy’s body.

☽✧☽✧

Sora was slowly sinking down into water that was terrifying dark. Sora looked in the direction he was sinking and saw that there was light below.

☽✧☽✧

Sora slipped into his own heart and went back to Terra, Aqua, and Ventus. He watched as the three of them plus Lily were united once more, then he and Lily went off to meet Kairi, Axel, Luna, Era, Xeha, Baby, Xemnas and his daughters. They were facing Junko, Saïx, and one other person--a girl he didn’t recognize.

“It's all right... Xion.” Sora already knew the name he was going to say there, but he wasn’t the one who said it. That was someone else inside of him--Roxas. There inside his heart, Sora encountered Roxas’s heart. The light it gave off fluttered away like birds, flying free to go wherever they wanted. He was surrounded by Roxas, Axel, and Xion’s most treasured memories. Roxas’s voice had made everyone remember again. Sora tried to open a Keyhole, but for some reason, it wouldn’t appear.

“Why...?” he asked.

“Sora...” That was Roxas’s voice.

“I need your help...There’s...something me and my friends have to reclaim, something that connected our hearts. That’s what’s binding me to this world...the last key. I need your help to get it back.”

“Got it. I have an idea. Wait for my signal,” Sora answered in a firm voice, then set Roxas’s heart free with his Keyblade. This time, it worked. Sora was returned to his past self, and Roxas had made the journey back with him. Then came the moment Sora had been waiting throughout the entire fight. He swung his Keyblade at Junko, who parried the attempt and swatted him to one side. That was Roxas and Xion’s signal to leap into action. Saïx tried to intercept them, but Axel, Luna, Era, Baby, Xeha, Xemnas, and the twins stepped in to keep him occupied. Lily hammered Junko with her Keyblade, and then Luna did the same with her magic. They spun around to one side to continue the offensive, but that gave Junko a moment to get her mallet up and knock them away. And then Kairi came down from above with her Keyblade raised to strike, along with Era, Baby, and Xeha. Junko was able to avoid their blistering series of attacks with a backstep. Brambles of dark energy emanated from her hands and bound Kairi, Xeha, Era, and Baby in place, and when Sora, Luna, and Lily tried to help them, they were entangled, too.

“These useless pawns...must be cleared...from the board!” she shouted, her eyes on Axel, Roxas, Xion, Luna, Lily, Xemnas, the twins, Era, Xeha, and Baby. Saïx rushed at Roxas and the others. Sora hung unconscious in his bonds, but a small orb of light left his body, carrying his heart to Roxas.

“Axel, Roxas, Xion. I have something that belongs to you. I need you three to strike me,” Xemnas said.

“What?!” Yui exclaimed.

“Dad, are you fucking crazy?!” Roxy added.

“I need you to trust me, girls. I know what I’m doing,” Xemnas responded. They had no choice but to trust Xemnas’s word. On his signal, Axel, Roxas, and Xion hit Xemnas in the chest. Xemnas clutched his chest in pain, as something that resembled the letter X emerged from within him. The symbol split into three, with a piece each flying to Roxas, Axel, and Xion.

“Is this...is this the sigil?” Xion asked as she watched the X-shaped light go into her chest.

“Yes. It is the mark I gave you. It’s what connected us from the start. It’s the...foundation...of the bond of our kingdom,” Xemnas explained. It was a sigil shared by all of them of the Kingdom That Never Was.

“This... This is the connection we needed,” Xion said as she looked at the sigil fondly.

“That's why I needed Sora's help. So that we could end this battle... once and for all! And restore Xemnas’s kingdom!” Roxas said, as Sora and the other’s bonds fell away along with the barrier around the battlefield. Sora’s heart left Roxas and returned to his own body. But only a moment later, Kairi was taken away by Junko once again. Then Saïx fell, and Sora returned to somewhere even deeper within his heart.

☽✧☽✧

The battle wasn’t over yet; as before, Sora faced Nagito and Junko atop the platform that lay beyond the maze. But Kairi’s body was shattered just as it had the first time. Again, Xehanort froze time with a spell, and Kingdom Hearts appeared in the sky.

“...Sora,” a voice called out to him.

“You're Majesty...?”

“It's me. I'm glad my voice is reaching you.” Mickey was speaking to him somehow.

“Your Majesty! Kairi's...”

“I know, but we can still save her.” All the heroes gathered around to discuss the dire situation, while Sora continued to listen to Mickey speak deep inside his own heart.

“What's happening?” he asked the king.

“Master Xehanort's got a lot of tricks up his sleeve. Kairi's one of the seven hearts, which is why he crystallized her--so he can use her as insurance until Kingdom Hearts is opened. She's his last resort,” Mickey explained. He and Riku explained as they had in the past, telling him about Xehanort being a portal. That was when Xion told Rumi something very important. But that still didn’t tell her nor Sora how exactly to get Kairi back. Then Sora realized something. He had jumped through Xehanort’s portal back then. If he was going to find Kairi anywhere, it was probably in there. Sora launched himself into the portal even faster than his past self. He knew what lay ahead of him. It was that city--Scala ad Caelum.

☽✧☽✧

Sora arrived just where he thought he would, only before his past self and the others. He headed into the city streets, and before long, he spotted Kairi. When he chased after her, he came upon a pack of Monokumas and Heartless, one of which was glowing with an inner light. He made sure to catch it. A brilliant crystal rose from the Heartless once he defeated it and flew into Sora’s heart.

“I can feel Kairi's heart...” he said. Now that he had a piece of her with him, Sora proceeded farther into the city in search of more images of Kairi. All kinds of puzzles and Heartless awaited him among its avenues, but one by one he found the shards of Kairi’s heart. Most of them, anyway.

“That's five... How many more?” Sora asked himself.

“There are two more,” a voice answered. Sora spun around and found Xehanort standing there.

“Why are you here...?!” Sora called his Keyblade to his hand, but Xehanort merely smiled.

“I am the one who hid the fragments of Kairi that you seek. Of course I am here. No matter--did you come alone?” the old man said.

“Yeah.” Xehanort chuckled.

“Are you prepared to pay the ultimate price?” he asked.

“Enough! It's only two...I'm saving Kairi!” Sora yelled in frustration.

“Unfortunately, you're a little too late,” Xehanort said as he looked out over the city.

“Oh, no...”

“It appears you have failed to retrieve Kairi in the time to come. So here you are, once again, in times already past. However, now that the other ‘you’ has arrived, you're doomed to repeat the same fate.” Xehanort laughed at the worry on Sora’s face. “You are nearly out of time.”

Sora watched his other self approach the city. His only option here was to merge with his past version again and fight. And merge with himself he did, holding his Keyblade. He was facing twelve Xehanorts--or rather Replica Xehanorts. After the battle with the Replicas, Sora returned to the depths of his heart.

☽✧☽✧

Back in the Keyblade Graveyard, the remaining guardians held their weapons up at Kingdom Hearts, firing lights into it.

“Everybody, be strong!” Mickey called out to the others, who all acknowledged him a bit anxiously.

“So...if we can't stop him, what happens?” Axel asked.

“I don't know... But...there's no question in my mind that that's the true Kingdom Hearts. I can't...imagine what'll happen if he succeeds,” Aqua said.

“I can. If he is able to control Hana’s powers...we’re all done for,” Yui said.

“f we hold it back, it might vanish,” Ventus said.

“No,” Terra corrected. “Only the Chi-blade has the power to stop it.”

“But...” Ventus said dejectedly. However, Riku remained calm.

“We all need to trust Sora and the others,” he said.

“That's right!” Mickey agreed with a smile.

“Look!” Rumi said loudly, directing everyone’s attention toward the darkening Kingdom Hearts. They all dismissed their weapons for the time being, deciding to wait and see how this change played out.

“Is anyone else seeing this or is it just me?” Roxy asked.

“I see it too,” Mukuro responded. They all saw twelve Xehanorts--the Replica Xehanorts-- came streaking out of Kingdom Hearts like black comets.

“Get ready!” Yui warned, but suddenly a dark tornado swept them all up into the air. Rumi tried to use her Guardian to try and stop it but it was too strong. Kingdom Hearts was pitch-black now, and the sky around it filled with Keyholes.

“Whoa whoa, this is some serious trouble,” Axel said as he finally managed to right himself. Nearby, Xion was almost carried away on the wind into one of the Keyholes until Roxas caught her hand.

“Xion!” he cried out.

“Thanks, Roxas!” The twelve Replica Xehanorts had the guardians surrounded in midair.

“We're trapped!” Mukuro cried.

“Let’s take these fuckers down!” Roxy called out to the others.

“Trust our bond!” Aqua added encouragingly.

“Riku, are you ready?” Riku asked.

“Yeah...we can do this! Let's go!” Riku answered, and then the battle was underway. Guardian and Replica swooped through the sky in a chaotic melee, constantly switching opponents. Even the guardians who had only just met fought with the teamwork of old friends. As Riku and Yui bore down on several of the Replica Xehanorts, blocking their combined attack with his Keyblade and her pistoleer, their friends were in their hearts. Together, they turned the tables on their foes. A sixth fragment of Kairi fell into Sora’s palm. But eventually the Replicas managed to send each of the guardians into one of the Keyholes in the sky, until Mickey and Riku remained in the end.

“Yui!” Riku cried out as he tried to reach for her, but it was no use. He then flew over to Mickey’s side and pushed him out of the way, and Sora moved from Riku’s heart to Mickey’s just as Riku was dragged into the Keyhole. Now all alone, Mickey collapsed. He wasn’t ready to give up just yet, though. Mustering the last bit of fight left in him, Mickey got up again. He was one with the light, and with Sora.

“No...I can't give up!” he said. He took up his Keyblade and stumbled toward the Keyhole. The Replica Xehanorts didn’t make it easy for him, but he blocked and rebuffed their attacks as he pushed his way forward. One step at a time. All the Replica Xehanorts joined together to create a laser attack. “No matter how far... The light will connect our hearts!”

Mickey bore the blunt of the onslaught on his Keyblade. Sora popped out of Mickey from behind and helped him hold off the beams, and then threw them back on the Replicas.

“We are--all of us--Together!” Sora and Mickey said in unison. With the Replica Xehanorts vanquished, the king was at last able to fire light into the Keyhole. As he began to fall from the sky, utterly drained of strength, Sora reached out and lent him a hand.

“Sora... What are you doing here...? Is it...really you?” Mickey asked.

“I traced the connection--from me to Riku, then Riku to you,” Sora said. The last fragment of Kairi floated free from Mickey, and Sora claimed it. “That's seven--all the lights I needed, including yours. I'll handle the rest.”

And with that, Sora flew into the Keyhole.

☽✧☽✧

Sora floated in a night sky filled with hundreds--with thousands of Keyholes.

“Where am I...?” he asked. A brilliant streak of light raced by Sora as he tried to get his bearings. It arrived at a Keyhole, then abruptly shifted directions and headed for a different one. The thread of light repeated this process again and again, binding several of the Keyholes to one another. “That light... It's the King's light!”

The light was streaking toward Sora, and when it collided with him, it pulsed brightly for a second before fading away. Sora noticed that there was now a Keyblade in his hand. He took the Keyblade in both hands and released a particularly powerful stream of light that passed from Keyhole to Keyhole, tracing out constellations across the whole sky. At last, Sora’s light passed through the Keyholes the guardians had fallen through and connected with them on the other side. The guardians regained consciousness, summoned their weapons in hand, and released their own light. The seven fragments of Kairi, shaped like pink flower petals, appeared before Sora’s chest, and the light from the guardians converged upon them, swelling brighter and brighter as the crystal fragments merged to form a single flower. The crystal flower flowed up into the heavens, causing one last larger Keyhole to take shape. Once more, Sora released light from his Keyblade to unlock it. There was a flash, and then someone slowly drifted free.

“Kairi!”

“Sora!” She flew toward him, her arms open wide. Sora reached out for her, too, and the two pulled each other into an embrace beneath the stars. They had barely been reunited when darkness began swirling into a storm above them. Sora was about to turn around when he felt a presence next to him. He looked over and found Hana’s imps floating up to him. He gave a nod and he and Kairi leveled their Keyblades at the black bolts of darkness. Sora could hear Hana’s voice guiding him in his mind.

“Call out one of their names and they will turn into a weapon that will help you,” he heard her say. The clouds converged and materialized as a new foe wearing a goatlike helmet, while a platform composed of arcane symbols took shape beneath their feet. Sora and Kairi moved forward to confront Xehanort, who had twelve identical Keyblades at his back and a thirteenth in his hand, covered in magic that looked like it belonged to a Spirit. Hana’s magic.

“Vanish!” the armored Xehanort roared as he shot down from the sky at the two heroes with his Keyblade. Columns of flame erupted from the ground like gouts of lava and chased them around the battlefield.

“Aki!” Sora called and Aki was able to protect them from the attack. Xehanort then summoned a giant Keyhole in the sky that belched forth blackness. Kingdom Hearts and the moon gleamed brightly above as huge meteors came hurtling down toward Sora and Kairi. The armored Xehanort roared with laughter.

“Kek!” Sora called out and Kek took the form of two arrowguns and Sora was able to shoot each meteor before it hit him and Kairi. Sora then took Kairi’s hand, and they rose into the sky together.

“Light!” Sora and Kairi shouted as one, and their wishes were manifested as great, glowing wings. Hands still clasped, they flew at Armor Xehanort. Kairi’s hand was warm and just a little sweaty. Sora looked into her eyes, and they both smiled. They let go of each other and raised their Keyblades overhead.

“Thana!” Sora called out and Thana took the form of Hana’s iconic scythe. As their Keyblades crossed, there was a brilliant pulse of light. Suddenly, multiple Keyholes opened in the sky, Each released a glowing orb that danced through the air and transformed into a person above Sora and Kairi. It was the guardians--Aqua, Terra, Ventus, Roxas, Xion, Axel, Yui, Roxy, Rumi, Mukuro, Era, and Riku. Even Luna, Lily, the Nort brothers, and Queen Aine were there too. Riku stepped away from the others as he spotted Mickey falling wreathed in light, and reached out to grab him. Hana’s imps then left Sora’s grasp and headed over to Luna and nuzzled against her. Finally, they were all together again. The assembled guardians touched down on the platform in the wasteland, and they all held their weapons aloft. The light each weapon produced came together to make a blinding beam that flew into Armor Xehanort.

“My friends...are my power!” The radiant flood swept over Armor Xehanort, leaving no trace of him behind. With the fight now won, Sora and Kairi disappeared in a burst of light.

☽✧☽✧

Suddenly, Axel had a realization.

“Where are Sora and Kairi? They were here,” he said.

“They were, but as long as they're together, they'll be all right,” Riku told him with a smile as he looked into the sky. Kingdom Hearts was fading away overhead.

“Now, let's go follow Sora's heart!” Mickey said. A gorgeous circle of symbols like a kaleidoscope appeared in the air, with a giant Keyhole at the center. The guardians all transformed into orbs of light and flew inside.

☽✧☽✧

Their hands linked together, Sora and Kairi landed in the realm of sky and sea.

“It's so pretty...” Kairi whispered as she looked at the shimmering horizon, where the two blues became one. Sora examined the palm of his free left hand. For a brief second, it looked transparent, just as it had when he first visited this world, but then it was back to normal. Sora closed his hand into a fist and turned to the girl next to him.

“Kairi. Come on. Everyone's waiting,” he said.

“Okay,” she agreed.

“Oh!” Sora then exclaimed and let go of Kairi’s hand.

“What’s wrong?”

“Well...My friends should be here, but...Heeey! Chirithy! Monomi!” Chirithy and Monomi appeared not form the sky this time, but right next to him.

“Woah!” Sora yelped. “Hey, why didn't you say something?”

“We were just trying to give you some privacy,” Chirithy retorted, miffed. Kairi examined the two creatures curiously.

“You’re Lady Mukuro’s Guardian, right?” she asked the pink and white bunny.

“That’s right! I’m Monomi.”

“I’m Kairi. If you’re her Guardian, then how come you’re here?”

“Well, I can’t leave my friend here by themselves.”

“Well, thankfully, we’re heading home. You should come with us,” Sora said.

“Whaaat...?” Chirithy hopped back and shouted.

“Oh please come home with us! You can stay with me and Mukuro!” Monomi said as she took Chirithy’s paws into hers.

“Take it from me, it's not enough to wait for someone you care about. It's true that hearts are connected wherever you are. If it's impossible to be together, then all you can do is wait. But, if it is possible to be together, then that's how it should be,” Sora said. Kairi looked over at Sora quietly as he explained.

“Sora...” Chirithy murmured.

“You know, this really is a beautiful place. But you'd enjoy it so much more with someone you care about. Before, when I was looking around with Kairi, I remembered how important it is...to share moments with friends.” Chirithy finally nodded, now on the verge of tears. Monomi extended a paw out to them.

“Let’s go!” she said.

☽✧☽✧

Now back in Disney Castle, Mickey, Donald, Goofy, and Jiminy were welcomed home by Minnie and Daisy, and one very excited Pluto. Yen Sid arrived a short time later with Chip and Dale on each shoulder, and fireworks burst in the sky above the castle.

☽✧☽✧

Next was the Land of Departure, restored to its former glory. Master Eraqus’s Keyblade, the Master’s Defender, had been plunged into the ground with a wreath of flowers hanging from it. Aqua, Terra, Ventus, Era, and Lily stood before it, each holding their Wayfinders. Chirithy observed from some ways away, slightly nervous. But when Ventus caught sight of them, Chirithy ran over and jumped into his outstretched arms. Aqua and Terra called him back over.

☽✧☽✧

At the Ikusaba mansion, the triplets waited on the front steps with Nightmare and Chia as Rumi, Ansem, and Mukuro returned home. When they spotted each other, they rushed over and hugged them tight, now a happy family once again. In another part of Twilight Town, Axel and Roxas watched the sunset from the clocktower. Neither of them wore their black coats. Xion arrived and sat down beside them, and she was wearing new clothes, too. Soon after, Saïx showed up carrying four bars of ice cream. He handed one each to Roxas and Xion, then sat next to Axel. But then, the triplets joined the party and they had brought their own ice cream, too.

☽✧☽✧

In the laboratory of Radiant Garden, Naminé was sleeping in a white chair while Ienzo looked on. Ansem the Wise and Vexen were busy working on something in front of a monitor. Sora and Kairi were nearby, too. Sora pressed his Keyblade to Kairi’s chest, and light flowed out of her. Finally, Naminé woke up, and Dilan and Aeleus led her out of the laboratory. There, waiting for her was Riku and Roxy. Once Roxy spotted Naminé, she raced over to her and crashed her lips onto hers, and the two shared a passionate kiss.

☽✧☽✧

The last stop was The Kingdom That Never Was. King Xemnas had thrown a ball to welcome back the long lost queen of the Organization. Hana showed up and danced with Sora and her family, but gently due to her still healing wound. While everyone else was dancing and having fun, Sora pulled Hana out to the balcony and they shared a loving yet passionate kiss. Sora was saying something to Hana, and a tear slid down her cheek. And then, Sora was gone. Gone, as if he had melted away into the sunset.

Sora was no longer part of the world.

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wh3r3sth3l0ve · 2 months

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Sora x Tifa

Part 19

Part 18 below

It was very unexpected for Sora as well. He couldn't say a word as he was unbelievably looking at her.

- I… I… - Tifa didn't know what to say.

- Do you mean that? - he asked quietly.

She was trying to look away but he grabbed her chin and directed her face into his.

“See? You don't deserve love!” “Shut it!” Sora was fighting the voice in his head.

- Do. You. Mean. That. - he was getting angry.

- I do. - she whispered.

- ‘Cause if you don't, then don't you ever tell that to me again.

The pain of losing Kairi's love came back to him. He knew that he wouldn't make it if anything similar happened to him again.

Tifa gazed deeply into his eyes and said as consciously and surely as she could:

- I love you. I don't wanna rush it but that's how it is.

Sora's face softened. He noticed his heart pounding hard and that he breathed really deep and fast from all the emotions.

- I would like to tell you the same - he paused. - but I can't. I'm sorry.

- That's okay. - she said, feeling a little heartbroken.

- I really care about you and I like being with you and talking to you and holding your hand and everything but it's just too soon for me and I don't wanna hurt you or lie to you and… - he really was upset because of that situation and was trying to talk himself out somehow.

- Hey, stop. - Tifa interrupted. - It's okay, really, I get it. Thank you for being honest.

“This sucks.” he thought. He was feeling unfair as she made so much for him and he wasn't even able to reciprocate her feelings. He just took her in his arms, showing his whole affection and trying to make it up somehow.

Tifa pushed him away a bit to look at him.

- I know how badly hurt you've been. I understand that you may be afraid. Take your time, I'll wait right here.

- Thank you. - he whispered. - Seriously, where have you been all my life?

She giggled.

- It's destiny. We both had to live through something to grow up for this relationship.

Both of them were staring into space, deep in their thoughts. It was a sleepless night for them.

Two days later it was the time to go for their first mission together. From the early morning both of them were a bit nervous. The whole squad met at the bar to prepare, they planned to go in the evening so the number of guards should be smaller. Sora didn't even noticed when the whole day passed and Barrett said:

- ‘Kay, time to move.

The group from Sector 8 took a different path so they wouldn't be spectated. Cloud somehow found three motorbikes for them, Sora was sitting behind Biggs, Barrett behind Tifa and Wedge was Cloud's passenger. Nothing happened on the road which helped them relax a bit.

Once they reached their destination, Barrett called the other group to give them a green light for action. He turned towards his colleagues and nodded his head. They approached the door and got into the building easily. A minute later they found the corridor they were looking for.

- Biggs, Wedge, stay here. - Barrett ordered.

Both guys nodded and stayed alerted, looking around as the others went through the door.

#fanfic #story #ff7 tifa #kh sora #cardiophilia

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embraceyourdestiny · 7 months

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Except from an au with the concept “sora comes back but he can only tell the truth”

Light breaches endless darkness and two hands extend from it. WIthout a second thought, Sora grabs them and they pull him free.

The darkness dissipates from the ever-growing light until it is no more and for the first time in so long, Sora feels. He breathes and thinks and cries when he can feel the people on the other side of the hands shaking. His pleas have been answered, his cries have been heard. Finally, they found him.

“Sora!”

A smile blooms on his face at the familiar call of his name. He’s home.

—-----------------------------

Sora’s body trembles as Riku and Kairi grab hold of him, pulling him close.

“S-Sora!” Kairi sobs, pulling his head to her chest as she embraces him. “It’s you! It’s really you!”

Riku is dumbstruck, his mouth agape in total shock that it’s real. He’s real. Sora is really here. Wordlessly, he wraps his arms around Sora and Kairi, language failing him. Kairi continues to cry, gripping his shoulder tightly as her tears stain his shirt, so different from times before.

“We found him, Riku. We really found him.”

A choked sound comes from Riku’s throat as he grits his teeth and squeezes Sora and Kairi hard. He won’t let go, not ever again.

—-------------------------

Sora goes limp in their arms and Kairi panics. She gently moves his head towards her as she cups his cheek, a shaking hand coming to brush the bangs away from her forehead. When she sees his face, reliefs floods her adrenaline filled body and she sighs, turning to worry-struck Riku as he looks at the two of them.

“It’s okay, Riku,” she says, breathless from exhaustion that’s both parts from battle and exhilaration. “He’s okay, he just fell asleep.”

Instantly, the tension and anxiety leaks from Riku’s body and he slumps forward to rest his head against Kairi’s shoulder, similarly exhausted like her.

“Thank the keys, he’s alright.” His words are barely above and whisper and Kairi can’t contain her smile. She adjusts her grip on Sora to have him lie in one arm while her other hand comes to cup the back of Riku’s head, gently running her fingers through his hair to soothe him.

“And you are too, Riku. We both are. Everything’s going to be okay.”

Another wave of tears overwhelms Riku and he pulls Kairi close by the waist, Sora lying wordlessly in the middle of their embrace. Finally, they were all together. Finally, things would be okay.

A voice equally timid and anxious cut through the atmosphere of reunion and both RIku and Kairi flinched. In their joy, they had forgotten there were other people there.

“I, uh, don’t mean to ruin the moment, guys,” Lea’s tense voice carried from across the makeshift battlefield that became the place they fought for Sora to come back, and they one. “But we should probably get out of here. This alternate reality from another dimension is cool and all but I don’t think we should be here any longer than we have to be.”

Riku remained hidden in Kairi and she watched his shoulders rise and fall as he took a deep and steadying breath. He was a leader now, she thought affectionately. She was sure Riku would say now was the moment he had to be strong the most and a feeling of pride and endearment filled her heart as she watched him pull himself away from her, from them. He stood tall and powerful above them, the strong Riku she always knew him as. He steeled his shoulders in certainty and hardened his face, preparing himself to lead those that looked to him. But his composure slipped when he looked down, eyes landing on Sora and flicking up to Kairi’s. Kairi met his warm smile and grateful eyes and rubbed a reassuring arm up and down his shoulder.

“Go. You’ve got this, and I have him. There’s no more need to worry. We’re in this together.”

Riku stared in her eyes for a long moment, so intent and earnest that Kairi actually felt herself blush, but she didn’t dare look away. If RIku was going to be strong for them, she would be strong for him.

“Riku…” Lea’s anxious voice spoke again.

Only a moment longer his eyes lingered before Riku gave Kairi a strong nod. His eyes drifted down to Sora and he placed a soft hand on his chest before pulling away and turning his back on them.

“Lea’s right.” Riku’s voice was strong and determined and demanded the attention of everyone around him. They all watched and listened, waiting with bated breath as for what he would say next, where he would lead them from here.

“We’ve stayed here for too long and now we leave. We came here for Sora and now we have him. Beyond that, there’s no point in being here.” He looked to the back of the slightly sporadic group spread out among the large and empty white domain.

“Namine, status report.”

Namine fiddled with a contraption she called her Little Tracker. It was a device she alongside Chip, Dale, Pence, and Ienzo had engineered to help her assist with the collection and examination of data on future missions and she loved it, always holding it and never letting it leave her side.

“The portal is still stable on our end but Ienzo says it’s weakening on their end with every moment that passes. It should be able to hold up, but not for long. A few minutes at most.”

“And how far are we from where we came from?”

A beat. “At least five minutes.”

It didn’t sound like much, but they were a big group and now had an extra person who could fend for themselves added to the list. Movement would be difficult for them. Riku redirected his attention to the newest member of their party, a beautiful and eloquent girl who was vital to their success today.

“Stella, how are things in the Realm?”

Stella worried her lip, eyes closed as her hands stuck out at her sides. She was feeling the energy of the Realm, including that of the enemies within it.

“Not good. We took a lot of them out but reinforcements are on their way. They aren’t too happy that we have Sora.”

“Good.” Snarky snickers went off throughout the group, all too glad to mock the ones who kept Sora from them for so long.

“With all that said, I think it’s time to skedaddle? Because… they’re here!”

#og #this is all I got but it intrigued me #embraceyourwords

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phoenix-downer · 2 years

Text

Make This Right

~1150 words. Sora/Kairi. Set during KH2. Sora and Kairi POV. Angst, Romance, Longing, Pining, Introspection. For SoKai Week 2022, Day 3: KH2 or Days.

Summary: Sora blames himself for Kairi getting kidnapped, and Kairi blames herself. But the prospect of seeing each other again motivates them to continue on their journeys.

Kairi was gone. Missing. Kidnapped because Sora wasn’t there to protect her. He’d taken too long to find Riku and bring him home, and this was the result.

He stumbled a little on the cobblestone streets of Twilight Town and had to brace himself against the brick wall of a building. Teeth gritted, he asked himself the questions that he’d been avoiding ever since Hayner and Olette had given him the news. Why couldn’t Kairi be safe? Why did his enemies always target her? Would they be after her forever because of him?

“Sora!” Donald and Goofy’s voices called out from behind him.

He plastered on a smile. “I’m going on ahead, meet you there!” he said, then took off for the Gummi Ship. He just really needed a moment to himself, and he didn’t want Donald and Goofy to see him break down. He felt weak and helpless enough as it was.

He kept the smile on as he ran past the residents of Twilight Town and waved to them. But the moment he was safely inside the Gummi Ship, the “keep it together, Sora,” mask came off, and he sank into his chair and buried his face in his hands.

He never knew how much helplessness felt like… felt like rage. What he was feeling now, it was exactly how he felt when he transformed into that Heartless-like thing. The loss of control, the burning anger, the desire to kick and claw and crawl and scream. He wanted to blame someone, anyone for what had happened.

But the only person in the cockpit was himself. He never should’ve left Kairi alone on Destiny Islands. He thought she’d be safe, but how could she be with both him and Riku gone? With no one left to protect her?

He pulled out her lucky charm, and hot tears welled up in his eyes. All his anger and frustration and shame dripped down his cheeks and landed on the thalassa shells. Stupid, stupid, stupid, was the mantra going through his head as he banged his fist agains the chair. Axel was stupid, the Organization was stupid, but most of all he was stupid. Stupid and weak and helpless for letting Kairi get kidnapped like this.

Once that was out of his system, he felt worse than ever—hollow and empty with a dull ache in his chest. He missed Kairi more than ever. Wanted to see her and hold her hand and maybe even give her a hug. But he couldn’t, and even if he could, he didn’t deserve that. He didn’t deserve any of that.

He heard rather than saw Donald and Goofy come in. Time to clear his throat and wipe his eyes and pretend he hadn’t just been crying like a useless weakling. But he couldn’t bear to look his friends in the eye and clutched the arms of his chair instead.

“Sora?” Goofy said, his voice really gentle as he took a seat next to him. “What’s wrong?”

Somehow Goofy being nice like that made him lose it all over again. “The King, Riku—” He hung his head, his voice breaking. “—and now I’ve lost Kairi again too.”

Fresh tears spilled down his cheeks. The King’s loss and Riku’s loss hurt, but Kairi’s hurt worst of all. What good was traveling around and seeing all these worlds if she was kidnapped and he couldn’t even see her?

“Don’t be sad!” Donald said, but his words didn’t really help. Until Sora found Kairi again, he was gonna be sad. That was just how having a heart worked. And no amount of faking a smile and hiding his pain could mask his sadness forever.

“Donald’s right, you know!” Goofy said. “Why, you’re the key that connects everything!”

Sora’s heart sank even further. “So it’s all MY fault.” Donald and Goofy blamed him too then. Well, they were right. He deserved the blame. He deserved it for not finding the King and Riku, for letting Kairi get kidnapped—

“Gawrsh, I didn’t mean that,” Goofy hurriedly replied. “Just do what comes natural to ya and we’re sure to find ‘em.”

Oh, so that was what Goofy meant. Not that it was Sora’s fault they were all missing, but that he would be the key to finding them. Was Goofy right? Maybe. He wanted Goofy to be right. He wanted to be the key to finding his friends. To rescuing Kairi. He wanted his heart to guide him along the right path.

“You said it!” Donald added, and Sora’s spirits lifted a little more. Goofy might downplay stuff to make him feel better, but Donald was brutally honest. If both of them thought he’d find his friends again—that he’d see Kairi again—then maybe they were right.

How was it that they always knew how to cheer him up?

“Thanks, guys,” he said, then lifted his head. There was no point in moping around anymore. Sometimes a guy just needed a good cry, but now that it was out of his system, he felt a lot better and was ready to continue his search.

He had to find his friends, no matter what. And when he found Kairi, he could apologize for what had happened.

That would be how he’d make this right.

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

Kairi shivered in her cell, hot tears burning her eyes. She’d escaped Axel, only to wind up captured by Saïx. It was cold and dark and she was all alone. Didn’t know how long these people planned on keeping her here, and without the sun it was hard to tell how much time had passed.

If only she had a Keyblade. If only she could fight. Then maybe she wouldn’t have gotten kidnapped. The last thing she wanted was to be a burden to Sora, and now—

She wiped her eyes and sniffed. How would he feel when he found out about this? Angry at Axel? Upset with Saïx? Frustrated with her? Or would he blame himself?

He shouldn’t. He should never blame himself. This was her fault for being weak and stupid.

Would he come for her? Her stomach churned at the thought. What would they do to him if he did? He’d already stabbed himself in the heart to save her. What else would he endure for her sake?

“No,” she said softly. “No, I won’t let them use me to hurt him. Not ever.”

She sat up straight. There had to be a way out of this cell. Sora shouldn’t have to come save her. She should save herself. She’d either sneak out of here or sweet talk her way out, but she was escaping either way. Then she could find Sora and they could be together again.

He hadn’t come home, so she’d bring home to him. Give him a big hug and hope it would make up for forgetting him.

That would be how she’d make this right.

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

A/N: Sora crying in the Gummi Ship after Kairi gets kidnapped in KH2 is such a powerful but understated moment and always really stuck with me. I enjoyed delving into his thoughts and feelings about the whole thing, and then as I was writing I wanted to deal with Kairi’s thoughts and feelings about being kidnapped and her resolve to find a way to escape.

Thank you for reading!

#sokai #sokaiweek #sokaiweek2022 #sora #kairi #kingdom hearts #kh fanfiction #donald #donald duck #goofy #phoenix writes #phoenix-downer #angst #romance #longing #pining #introspection #long post

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cinnabeat · 3 years

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no hate to kairi but sora spent like three games chasing after riku and im supposed to believe that kairi is that special to him?

#i really do love kairi but i wish #idk i wish she was given a bigger role #then just being soras heart #or whatever the fuck it is i cant describe it #like yeah sora basically ripped his heart out to let kairis heart go back to her body #and aora became a heartless and atuff #but ur lying if you dont think sora would do the exact same thing for ANY of his friends #like idk if kh1 was focused more on actually finding kairi then finding riku i think it wouldve been better?#i mean like he was looking for both of them but then he found kairi and riku and it was lkke oh ok #and im the end they got kairi back but riku was still missing #idk i dont think im making sense #stop making kairi a background supporting character and maybe ill believe all tjat shit in kh3 #like in kh3 that soecial connection they had felt like it came out of nowhere #like soras always been a friendly person and hed literally day for anyone of his friends and all of a sudden with kairi its like even more t #than that? like no development was shown #like im supposed to think kairis that special when until recently he treated her exactly the same as he treated his otjer friends?#like riku literally became a dream eater and went into soras dreams to bring him back??#IDK LIKE ALL THREE OF THEN CARE FOR EACH OTHER SO MUCH THAT ITS WEIRD THAT THE SPECIAL CONNECTION IS ONLY BETWEEN SORA AND KAIRI #LIKE THESE BITCHES SHARED A PAOPU FRUIT TOGETHER??#i literally dont have the words to explain but this is my destiny trio ot3 agenda

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lungtied-tonguelied · 2 years

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Mags’ Last Words

Things to note before I go off on one:

- The drink Walter left on the table for her

- Kairi watching (and looking awfully concerned) in the background

- Walter leaving the letter behind

- The two of them have similar ways of expressing their feelings about one another, each of them writing them down. The only difference being that Maggie’s letter found Fuse’s hands, whereas Fuse’s letter will never make its way to Maggie.

So. I told you I’d have more to say about them.

She believed she was going to die, while she sat in that Syndicate cell, and she poured her heart out onto the page to give to Walter when she went off to be killed. She never thought she would have to see him again, and maybe that was why she felt comfortable having a vulnerable moment, why she felt comfortable letting him know that she understood why he did what he did. It felt like a final goodbye, a lady ‘I love you, and I forgive you’, in a way. Her letting him know that she didn’t hold it against him as she went to die.

And then Eduardo Silva lets her live and all of those genuine words get thrown out of the window in favour of spiteful ones. She goes right back to her original rhetoric about him being a traitor, and says to him vicariously through Lifeline that he was unreliable and she never should’ve trusted him.

What do you think he thought? After reading that letter, after hearing that his best friend didn’t hate his guts and wouldn’t resent him even to her grave, only then to be faced with the same anger she had given him before, offered none of that forgiveness the letter mentioned? He’s hurt, we know he’s hurt, this is twice now we’ve seen another legend show him concern in such a situation (Valkyrie in the background of this lore video, and Horizon in the ‘Tuesday Nights at Paradise Lounge’ loading screen, both can be assumed to be showing him concern about his drinking habit), but more so than that I imagine he’s conflicted and confused. It might even give some meaning to his question of “Truce?” in the Season 12 trailer.

But they’re just a fraction of my very jumbled thoughts on this new lore video, and I’ve barely even touched half of the things I could say about the episode from the other day (stay tuned for that at some point), so feel free to open a discussion about this cos I’d love to talk more and hear other people’s opinions!!

P.S. Her never letting anyone call her Margaret, and then signing off her letter with the name just…ouch, right through the heart.

Edit: Him never reading the letter hurts like a bitch, but hey, at least both of their letters to one another were never seen by the other person’s eyes (or eye).

#apex legends #apex #apex mad maggie #apex maggie #margaret kōhere #apex fuse #walter fitzroy

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purplemanbehindtheslaughter · 2 years

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ring (revenant x reader)

ok so I am a revenant simp from apex legends, its a really fucn first person shooter, and I saw this ring post, like what ring legends would give to their s/o and I just had to. No this was not mine at all, I simply and making more detail. and whoever did make that, I am not stealing, simply extending. You should be glad bc it actually means you post made someone happy.

“Yo, (y/n), where’d you get the sick ring?” Kairi (Valkyrie) Walked up to you, staring at the red gem sitting on your finger. You looked at it, tilting your head with a smile.

“I don’t know, but I really like it. I mean, call me emo, but I love the little skulls on the sides, and the gem is blood red. It’s beautiful.” You stared at is dreamily, and your best friend snickered.

“Sounds like somebody has a crush~” She laughed, making you slap her with an eye roll.

“Bruh, they’re a secret admirer, it’s hard to have a crush. I mean, It could br some dude who’s really just a stalker, or wants under my sheets.”

“Well, if it is. I feel bad for them. I highly doubt they’d live after pissing you off.” At this you smiled slyly.

“damn right, girl. Yo, let’s go get some ramen, I’m starving right now.” You suggested, and Kairi nodded happily.

“I’ve been starving since breakfast!”

“That was three hours ago, valk.” You laughed.

temmie skip *snort*

It was you, Valkyrie, and Revenant, all on the same team. You were actually kill leader right now, with five, no, six kills under your belt. You and Valkyrie had been joking around the entire time, until Revenant, who had been oddly silent, spoke up.

“Ring’s far. If you wanna die, it’s your funeral.”

“oH reALlY? I thOuGHT It WAs yOUrS.” You said in a dumb voice, already on your way to the ring. Valkyrie laughed.

“For a second I literally thought he was talking about the one on your finger.” She pointed o your finger, and you snorted.

“Oh, yeah, this ring is so far from me like, I can’t even see it.” You said sarcastically, putting your arm out. You both cracked up in laughter, taking a quick break to catch your breath.

“Hey, my ultimate’s ready. Hop on.” Valkyrie pressed two buttons on her jetpack, and it started up. You had to literally force Revenant to join because he refused to be a functioning member of the team. It was funny, and Valkyrie got quite a kick out of you literally dragging a seven foot tall robot over to her just so you could get to ring. eventually you made it.

After a while all three of you emerged victorious, and you pumped you fist, jumping happily. When you made it to the main plaza everyone usually hung out, the other legends wouldn’t stop congradulating you on your flawless victory. Valkyrie was very modest about it, and you could tell deep inside, Rev was happy to. Eventually he walked up to you, clearly having a question.

“So... what’s with the ring?” He asked with his arms crossed. You shrugged.

“I literally don’t know, pal. I found it on my nightstand, no note or anything, and I instantly loved it. It’s like, completely my style, and I don’t know if it’s a coincidence or not, but they either knew I was a lot darker than the avarage person, or it happen to be their style too.”

“So you like it?” He asked. You could have sworn he sounded... nervous? Or glad? There was some kind of emotion in his voice. It was actually kind of cute.

“Yeah! I love it! It would be nice to meet the one who gave it to me.”

“You already know them.” Revenant grumbled under his breath.

“Hmm? I do? Wait, that mean you know who it is, right? Can you tell me who?” You asked, hyper. He shook his head.

“They probably delivered it to the wrong room.” He said. You crossed your arms.

“Oh, come on. I won’t make things awkward. Besides, when did you care about how people felt?” You asked, a little bit upset. He stuttered, confusing you out of your mind.

“I-I don’t, I-I just...” you jumped, going wide-eyed, making him stop talking.

“Oh my god, Revenant, was it you?” You asked. He seemed to almost stop working, not knowing how to respond. You laughed, kissing him on the cheek (is that even right?). “Well, even if it wasn’t you, I do maybe like you, like in a... well, I don’t wanna say ‘romantic’... Ehh, you get the point. Love ya, man.” You walked away, leaving him metaphorically breathless.

Well, if there was any doubt in him that he loved you, it was gone now.

#apex legends #revenant #revenant x reader #valkyrie

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dusky-dancing · 3 years

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What She Needs

(banner art by mageofspace, shared with permission. You can find her art on Twitter and Instagram!)

Summary: Kairi is one of the bravest people that Sora has ever known, but sometimes a deep terror within her will trigger with little to no warning. Her determination to overcome it despite her missing memories inspires Sora to do everything he can to help her.

Rating: T

Length: ~2k words

Genre: Romance, Canon Compliant, Hurt/Comfort

This piece was done as a part of the One Light One Heart @sokaizine I hope you enjoy, and please check out the other artists and writers who contributed their amazing works to this zine!

Also, happy SoKai Week!!!

The first time Kairi's hidden fear showed itself, Sora was too young to know what any of it even meant.

She'd washed ashore Destiny Islands out of nowhere and had made it her home in no time. Sora had found her, but she didn't need his help fitting in. There were so few kids on the island that anyone new was excitedly welcomed, and none of their friends had given a second thought to where she might've come from.

A few weeks after she'd settled in, a game of hide n' seek brought their friends and parents to the Play Island. Sora was "it" as he often was, tasked with finding his friends across the island. As unfair as it was, he focused on finding the new girl first, since she hadn't learned the island's best hiding spots yet.

A shifting box followed by a poorly concealed giggle revealed her choice, the island shack. Sora snuck up slowly, counted to three, and burst through the door, his hands stretched out like claws in front of him.

"I found you, Kairi!"

The noise that followed made him pause. She screamed, but not in a fun, giggly way. She sounded...really scared, and it only continued as she huddled tightly in the corner of the shack, facing away from him.

"Hey, it's okay! It's just Sora, see?" he said as he sat down beside her. When she came out of hiding from behind her hands, he shot her the biggest smile he could. But she couldn't stop crying. "Kairi, what's wrong? Did I hurt you?"

"No. I-I don't know. Please make it stop." She curled in on herself again, hugging her legs and rocking from side to side.

He had no idea how to help but followed her lead by shuffling in closer and hugging her from behind. "Whatever's scaring Kairi, go away!"

They both jumped when the door opened again, but it was Riku and some grown-ups who came running in. Many questions followed, none of which Kairi knew the answer to, and the more that came, the more scared she looked. Her new mom, the mayor, checked her for injuries, Riku punched Sora's shoulder, thinking he was the one who'd scared her, and even more kids crowded around them. The grown-ups spoke amongst themselves where the kids couldn't eavesdrop. All the while, Kairi looked like she'd seen a monster. A big one, maybe invisible too, since Sora never saw it.

Soon, the mayor came and picked Kairi up. "Are you giving me back?" Kairi asked.

"Of course not, dear." The woman kissed her head. "We're just going to see what we can do for you."

Riku intervened before they could leave. "Will Kairi get to play with us again?"

"Absolutely." The woman looked at their group. "Friends are the ones we need most during hard times."

Her words stuck with Sora until his mom tucked him into bed that night. "What did the mayor mean when she said 'hard times?'" he asked. "Kairi just got really scared."

His mother sat beside his bed. "She means that Kairi is new here. It's hard enough being the new girl, but she also can't remember anything about her old home."

"How could that be bothering her if she can't remember?"

"Sometimes our bodies remember before our minds do."

"So how am I supposed to help if she doesn't even know?"

She smoothed his hair flat, but his spikes popped right back up. "That's easy, dear, you just keep being her friend. Don't pry her for answers she's not ready to give, but be there for her when she needs it."

So Sora did exactly as his mother had suggested for the next several years. He paid attention to what made Kairi panic and did his best to prevent it. It only really happened whenever someone loomed right over her, but unfortunately, it happened quite often since she was so little. Standing in front of her seemed to help because of their similar height, but Sora couldn't prevent all of her panic attacks. Despite becoming less frequent as they grew older, something would trigger them once in a while.

One day, when they were all playing frisbee with Tidus, Wakka, and Selphie, it happened again. Selphie threw the frisbee chaotically to avoid being tackled by Riku. Kairi caught it and searched for their nearest goal. When she turned around, however, she faced Wakka's form barrelling towards her, arms wide and ready to stop her.

She didn't throw the frisbee but dropped it right where she stood. Sora watched her body tense up, her smile vanishing in a flash as her eyes grew wide, and fortunately Wakka noticed too before he could tackle her.

Kairi sank to the ground, hugging her knees closely. Riku's response was much more swift and direct than Sora's as he pushed Wakka away and asked what he'd done. Wakka just shrugged his shoulders, and the commotion only caused more eyes to be drawn to the girl sitting in the sand.

But Sora noticed the look in her eyes. Normally such a bright girl who naturally drew the gazes of those around her, she now turned away from the attention. Her eyes locked with his, and he knew that she didn't want this.

"It's not Wakka's fault," she finally said. "Just give me a minute. I'll be fine."

"You sure, Kairi?" Wakka dared to step closer, and Riku begrudgingly allowed him to. "We can find something else to play if it's too much for ya."

"No, don't treat me differently. This—whatever it is—it isn't me. I don't want to coddle it. Please, I just...I just want to overcome it."

A collective silence followed as their friends exchanged looks. Sora still didn't understand much about what was plaguing Kairi, but he remembered his mother's words.

He was beside her in a few steps, extending a hand to help her up. "C'mon, Kairi, you've got this. We'll help you."

Riku nodded. "However long it takes."

Wakka rubbed his head. "Just don't tackle me next time, ya?"

Kairi needed many things from Sora over the years—a hug when she felt down, a word of encouragement, an ear to confide in. But she never needed him to go easy on her. He felt a strange sense of protection towards her, but it wasn't until their island was attacked that he actually feared for her safety.

And it wasn't until he found her again that he ended up being the one who needed protection. He'd thought that losing his heart would've been the end of it. That he'd fade away and only exist as a Shadow mindlessly wandering the halls of the abandoned castle. But his heart heard her calling out to him, and the dark wisp of a body that had replaced his own had enough of a will to follow it.

Her voice grew louder, closer, and he could make out words. Something about protecting him. But why would he need protecting? His heart didn't even exist anymore.

He wanted to yell for her to just run. Instead, her voice cried out to him again, calling his name. An overwhelming warmth surrounded him before he could even try to speak, and a bright light pierced the vast emptiness that he'd faded into. He could see again, and the hands of his reforming body instinctively reached out to meet the welcoming light.

The light consumed him neither forcefully nor violently. His body took shape around something—no, someone—and he didn't have to wait long to know who had brought his heart back. Brought him back.

Before his eyes even opened, he spoke. "Kairi, thank you."

From the evaporating remains of Heartless surrounding them and Donald and Goofy's readiness to fight, Sora knew they'd faced danger solely for his sake instead of running. She'd faced danger head on without even a moment's hesitation. Her eyes showed neither fear nor panic.

It was then that he knew she'd accomplished what she'd wanted to years ago—she'd overcome the fear that had hidden itself deep within her. He would've hugged her again if it hadn't been for the danger pursuing them.

Even though she couldn't be with him on every following adventure, her bravery and determination grew with each reunion. She leapt from balconies to come to his rescue. She embraced her role as both a Princess of Heart and a Guardian of Light. She accepted Axel's friendship despite his actions. She walked side by side with their friends, old and new, to face the Organization.

He knew that together, they were strong enough to face anything, but a sinking feeling still rose in his gut as they stepped forward. If she were to get hurt at all, he'd never forgive himself. It only worsened in a matter of seconds, when the silver-haired man who Ven called "Terra" suddenly struck Ven down.

Then he confirmed Sora's worst fear and went for Kairi. Axel stepped in faster than Sora could, but he wasn't fast enough to protect himself from the man's sheer strength. He too went down.

Kairi was open, unguarded, before a man who was not holding back, and Sora's muscles snapped out of their stasis. Understandably, she froze, but it wasn't with the same shock and confusion that Aqua had after Ven fell. Kairi's arms stiffened at her sides, unable to even call Destiny's Embrace to her aid. Her violet irises blew wide, and her jaw locked open and stiff. He knew that look well, for he'd witnessed it many times.

Calling her name would've wasted the precious energy he needed to get to her quickly. He didn't even have time to summon his Keyblade as Kairi's attacker raised his own, so he did for her exactly what she'd done to bring his heart back without a second thought. His body shielded her, with his back turned to their imminent danger. He'd helped her with an embrace many times throughout their childhood, so he hoped the gesture communicated what he didn't have time to say.

You're not alone, Kairi.

It's okay to be afraid.

Thanks to his friends, Sora never took the strike that had been fated for Kairi, but it did come for her later when Xehanort knew how far to keep them apart. Sora lost count of how many times he'd defied fate that day, but he did it one last time for her. Merlin's voice echoed in his head from many months ago, warning him never to change events that were fated to happen as they stood before the door leading to Mickey's kingdom's past. He threw the wizard's advice aside before jumping through time's gate.

Whether or not Kairi actually knew that Sora had been trying to help her, he didn't know. She rarely spoke of her lost memories outside of when they'd tormented her. What mattered was that he'd helped in some way. Given her what she needed to face her fears head on. Maybe she'd never actually needed him to overcome it.

But as they sat unseen upon the walls surrounding Disney Castle, with fireworks illuminating the night sky with every color imaginable, he didn't care how large a role he'd played in her growth. As long as he could be a part of her life, the rest didn't matter. That's all, she'd said to him while offering a paopu fruit, unaware of just how significant she was.

"You know," she said to break the silence, still staring at the cacophony of colors. "I never did find out what scared me so much as a little girl."

"You don't need to," Sora answered. "You've overcome it all on your own."

"That's true." She smiled before finally turning to him and winking. "Though, maybe not entirely on my own." So she had noticed. The realization left Sora flustered and speechless, and she didn't give him time to recover before speaking again. "I've heard that some people react the same way to fireworks. It isn't the fireworks themselves, but what the sounds and lights remind them of, memories that either haunt them or are lost like mine. Maybe it doesn't matter whether or not I remember, but a part of me is still curious."

Sora glanced down at his hand, hoping it wouldn't begin to fade away soon. He didn't know how much time he had, but he wanted to make the most of it. He moved closer to her, covering her hand with his own.

"Maybe it's not necessary, but if you ever do want those answers, I'll do everything I can to help you find them too."

She giggled with a sweet smile. "I can't keep asking you to save me, Sora."

"You don't have to ask," Sora said, then laughed. "Whatever you need, Kairi, it's yours."

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

A/N: I came up with this premise pretty much right after the trailer dropped for Melody of Memory. Seeing Kairi's memories of Terra-Xehanort cornering and looming over her reminded me of Kairi freezing before the same man in the Keyblade Graveyard. The revelation—that she froze from resurfaced painful memories—made Sora's hug and sacrifice for her so much deeper. I wanted to expand on Sora and Kairi's connection, specifically with how caring and emotionally aware Sora is of those he cares for. I thought of Sora doing everything in his power to help Kairi, and now here we are! I hope you enjoyed!

I want to extend a big heartfelt 'thank you' to all of the mods and contributors who worked so hard to make the zine as beautiful and amazing as possible! Thank you, @phoenix-downer, for beta-reading my draft for this story each step of the way, and to mageofspace for the lovely banner art! It was so fun to work with everyone, and I couldn't have asked for a better community to be a part of for my first zine <3

#kingdom hearts #kh fanfiction #kh fanart #sokaizine #sokai #sora #kairi #romance #hurt/comfort #ptsd #fluff #my writing #dusky writing #long post #mageofspace

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aquafolia · 3 years

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Sokai Day Fic 1: True Love’s Kiss(es)

So yes, I am a Classics/ancient history blog, and this is obviously super different from the content I normally post on this blog. Please forgive me, but I’ve recently become OBSESSED with Kingdom Hearts and I have nowhere else to post this stuff at the moment. So please forgive me, normal content will resume soon!

Anyway, as I said I just started playing the KH games for the first time this summer and it’s been so much fun. And seeing all the amazing stories and artwork in this fandom has inspired me to write some stuff too. Anyway, I’m Holly, and I hope y’all enjoy :)

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

True Love’s Kiss(es)

‘Ugh!’ Kairi groaned, unceremoniously setting down the basket she held in her hands. ‘I forgot that when you pick apples, you have to actually carry them all back, too!’

‘Your basket’s not even half full, Kairi,’ Sora remarked, ‘and we’ve only just started!’

She grinned. ‘Well then, it’s a good thing I have a strong, manly boyfriend to help me carry all of these.’

He could hardly argue with that. Sora feigned displeasure by rolling his eyes and letting out a dramatic groan, which made Kairi giggle. But then he walked over to her, grabbing one of the basket’s handles as she grabbed the other, and the pair made their way deeper down the rows of apple trees. They could hear the distant shouts and laughs of their friends echoing through the orchard as they went. Apparently, Twilight Town– a world basically in perpetual autumn– was known for its fall festivities, including its legendary apple orchards. Once they’d visited the orchards, the gang hoped Remi would help them make apple pies, apple cider, and all sorts of goodies during their visit. To that end, the group had decided to break up into teams in order to pick as many apples as they could carry. Today, Sora and Kairi were paired up. But Sora knew that if they only returned with a measly half basket of apples, the others would surely tease them, accuse them of slacking off.

They wouldn’t be totally wrong, Sora thought with a grin. Sure, Kairi was determined to focus on their task: she was deep in concentration, examining each apple carefully before deciding to place it in her basket. Sora, on the other hand, was much more determined to get Kairi off task. It wasn’t that Sora didn’t want to help out, but this was an opportunity for him and Kairi to spend some time alone– that was a temptation greater than any fruit, in Sora’s world.

Kairi set her sights on a shiny red apple that hung high on a nearby tree. She stood up on her tiptoes, making adorable little noises as she tried to grab it. Sora was staring intently, but not at the apple: Kairi’s form was stretched out in front of him as she reached high over her head, accentuating her curves, and Sora was mesmerized. It was only when she said his name that he snapped out of his trance: ‘Sora,’ she called out, not taking her eyes off the fruit, ‘would you come over and help me with this one? You should be able to–’

Kairi shrieked as Sora, having silently moved behind her, wrapped his arms around her legs and hoisted her up onto his shoulder.

‘Tall enough now?’ he asked casually.

Her surprised squeak was the only reply Kairi could muster. Once she’d successfully picked the apple, Sora released her hips. He held her by the waist as her body slid down his until she landed gently on the ground. Even in the autumn chill, Sora could feel his cheeks burning.

Having regained some of her composure, with a giggle, Kairi said, ‘Guess we make a pretty good team, huh?’ before she turned to the next tree. Sora tried to hide it by replying with a level ‘Absolutely,’ but inside, he was beaming: watching the effect he had on Kairi just never got old for him– but given how hard he had to try to appear cool and unfazed, it wasn’t like he was much better than she was.

Now that he’d had his fun, Sora walked up next to Kairi to help out. The pair picked apples side by side, happily chatting and admiring each other's finds, and over time, their basket filled with bright red apples. While they worked, something about the orchard nagged at Sora’s mind, but he couldn't place it. As he studied a large, blood-red apple in his hands, it finally clicked.

‘All these apples remind me of Snow White,’ Sora remarked. ‘Aqua told me how Snow White’s evil stepmother tried to kill her by getting her to eat a poisoned apple. The dwarves thought she was dead, so they placed her in a beautiful glass casket,’ Sora recalled, his eyes still fixed on the apple. He found himself absentmindedly tracing the spot on his chest where a scar marred the skin over his heart: the permanent reminder of his sacrifice for Kairi– well, his first one, anyway.

‘But she wasn’t dead,’ Sora continued, thought bleeding into memory. ‘She was asleep, and she couldn’t wake up…’

‘Until her true love saved her.’

That broke Sora out of his reverie. He looked up to find Kairi already gazing at him, her eyes soft and sincere. Sora replied, ‘Yeah… Reminds me of another princess I know.’

Did she really mean…? They’d talked about their first adventure numerous times before, but she’d never said it like that.

‘I would have killed for a nice bed to sleep on,’ she continued. ‘You and Riku took me on quite a journey– napping peacefully in a meadow sounds pretty good to me,’ Kairi said with a grin.

A breeze drifted through the orchard, rustling the leaves over their heads. ‘I remember your dad telling us all those old fairy tales when we were kids,’ Sora said. ‘After all the adventures we’ve had… it’s strange to think we sort of became one ourselves.’

‘They’re not always as fun to live as they are to hear…’ Kairi remarked, almost to herself, ‘when you don’t know if there’ll be a happy ending after all.’ Her eyes grew distant, drifting aimlessly down the row of apple trees. ‘I… I still remember waking up at Hollow Bastion, seeing that Keyblade in your chest… And then how you–’ she started, but then faltered, unable to bring herself to say what came next.

Sora gently placed a hand on her shoulder, turning her to face him. She still seemed lost in thought, not meeting his eyes. ‘I know what you mean. But we did get one, didn’t we, Kairi? It took a while, and we’ve had to find each other again and again, but now you’re here. And thanks to you, I’m here. We’re finally together, and nothing is ever going to change that. That’s the best ‘happily ever after’ I could have wished for.’

The pair were alone, the trees standing sentry around them, but his voice grew softer all the same: these words were just for her. ‘All that doesn’t really matter anymore,’ Sora continued. ‘What I mean is… what matters is that we’re here now. That means it was all worth it.’ He took her hand, interlacing their fingers. ‘Back at Hollow Bastion, when I saw your eyes open just before mine closed, when I knew your heart was safe… it was worth it, Kairi.’

She finally looked up at him. Sora hoped his eyes conveyed the sincerity of his words: It had all been for her– and it had all been worth it, every moment. Every time Sora got to see her sweet smile, got to hear her lovely laugh, it was worth it. And now, he wasn’t just connected to her across the worlds by promises and oaths– if he wanted to find Kairi, all Sora had to do was reach for her hand. How was that not a dream come true?

A small smile forming on her lips, Kairi gave him a look of such love and gratitude that Sora knew she felt the same. ‘It just makes our time together now even more precious to me,’ she finally said, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. ‘I’m never going to take this for granted.’

Sora decided then to gather her into his arms and bring her close, her head resting in the crook of his neck, his cheek on her soft hair. ‘You know,’ he started after a pause, ‘I have to admit, when I heard Snow White’s story, I got a bit jealous.’

Kairi pulled back just enough to shoot him a quizzical look. ‘Jealous?’

‘Yeah, of Prince Florian. All he had to do to wake up Snow White and save the day was kiss her– pretty nice deal, if you ask me,’ Sora explained. Kairi smiled, but her eyes were still a bit sad. So he continued, a grin spreading across his face, ‘Don’t know why I didn’t think to try that first…’

‘Oh, Sora!’ Kairi giggled, giving Sora a playful smack on his arm, her face brighter. ‘What, does that mean you thought about kissing Ven at some point, too?’ she countered.

‘I was getting so desperate to find the Power of Waking, I just might have!’ Sora replied, and they both laughed again. Keeping one arm around Kairi, he took a bite from the apple still in his hand. It was crisp and fresh, and amazingly sweet– it was just right, like everything else in this moment.

Suddenly, with a smirk on her face, Kairi plucked the half-eaten apple from Sora’s hand. She lifted the fruit to her lips, holding Sora’s gaze as she took a large bite next to where he’d just bitten, a small drop of juice running down her chin as she chewed. All Sora could do was watch her, hopelessly mesmerized. It was bold, yet playful– Kairi to a T. Before Sora’s brain could fully resume normal functioning, Kairi said, feigning innocence, ‘What? Isn’t sharing fruit kind of our thing? It’s no paopu fruit, but still…’

Staring into her eyes, the radiant sunset bathing them in soft, warm light, Sora grew bold himself: They’d spent so long in silence, so long apart, why waste any time? He’d fought so hard to find her, to come back to her, over and over again. She was right here– if he wanted to kiss her, what on earth was there to consider? Sora reached a hand forward to cup her cheek, wiping the juice from the corner of her lip with his thumb. Kairi let the gentle pull of his thumb part her lips. ‘It is pretty good,’ Sora said, ‘but… you definitely taste better.’ And with that, he lowered his head and kissed her. He heard the sound of the apple landing on the ground, utterly forgotten, as Kairi’s arms wound around his neck.

And Sora had to admit, kissing Kairi felt pretty magical– Maybe those fairytales were onto something after all.

But of course, the distant sound of Aqua, Ven, and Riku calling out in search of them forced the pair to break their kiss, albeit begrudgingly. Sora expected Kairi to step away, pick up her basket, maybe call out to their friends– but she didn’t. She stayed as she was in Sora’s arms, one hand resting on his shirt, over the scar. Sora could feel his heartbeat racing under her touch. When she looked up at him again, something in her eyes was different. Still happy, but mixed with something else– not just happiness, but a determination to be so.

‘This is a pretty large orchard,’ Kairi remarked, her eyes bright. ‘Our friends probably won’t find us for a little while longer…’

‘We’d better not make them wait too long, or Axel will use his chakrams to–’

Kairi grabbed Sora’s hoodie with both hands and pulled him back down to her lips. For a moment, Sora stood frozen, eyes wide with shock. But as she melted into him, his eyes fluttered closed and he wound his arms around her, each kiss between them less ‘Fairy Godmother Friendly’ than the last. Traditionally, in all those fairytales, the heroes only ever got one ‘True Love’s Kiss.’ Sora considered himself the luckiest prince of all time– he had a never ending supply.

Twilight Town was always just that– hanging in perpetual dusk. So Sora really didn’t know how long he and Kairi spent like that, lost in laughter and kisses and caresses beneath the trees. But once their friends’ voices grew dangerously close, Sora and Kairi managed to untangle themselves, wiping swollen lips, readjusting ruffled clothing, and fixing disheveled hair (not that Sora’s hair had been tidy in the first place– and Kairi burst out laughing when she realized her attempts to smooth it didn’t do much good, either). As Kairi called out to their friends, Sora picked up her basket, now full of delicious looking apples, and the pair began to head back toward the orchard entrance. They probably hadn’t gathered the most apples– and he was sure their friends would point that fact out– but Sora didn’t care one bit. He wouldn’t have traded this day for anything.

‘Hey Kairi?’ Sora said as they walked, ‘For the record, if I’m ever in a fruit induced coma– or any other kind of coma, really– feel free to make out with me, in order to revive me. Thought I should say so, you know, just in case.’

‘Oh, really?’ She teased back. ‘I’ll make sure to tell Donald– you always complain he never uses Curaga when you need it.’

‘What? No! Ew, gross!’ Sora blanched as Kairi dissolved into laughter. But when his eyes found hers again, he couldn’t help but smile.

As her giggles died out, she replied, 'Okay, I’ll remember that… But that doesn’t mean you can go throw yourself into danger so I’ll kiss you better!’

‘I can’t help it– when you kiss me, I feel like I can do anything,’ Sora answered simply. Kairi’s eyes widened at his remark, and she ducked her head as her cheeks bloomed pink. Sora beamed. He may have been laying it on her thick, but Sora wasn’t lying: He had true love on his side– the most powerful magic of all.

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#sokai day 2021 #sokai #kairi #sora #I'm new to this ship but absolutely obsessed #here is my humble addition to sokai day :)#sokaiday

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