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1 Author's Note: I'd like to thank my friend, Chi, for helping me with
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2 this. If it weren't for her and a few others who keep asking when the
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3 next chapter would come out, I'd never finish. ^-^ She helped write
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4 one of the scenes in this, so I appreciate that greatly. ^-^ Thank
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5 you, Chi. ^-^ *hugs* And thanks to everyone who's kept Prism Hearts
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6 going. ^-^ This was going to be a one shot story, but you all helped
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7 push it forward into a series. I don't want it to end now. ^^;; I'm
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8 considering making a sequel series to it. ^-^;; I guess we'll see
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9 what happens. ^-^ Thanks again!
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10
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11
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12 Prism Hearts
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13 Chapter 10
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14 Treasure Chest of My Heart
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15 by Amazoness Duo
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16 amazonessduo@hotmail.com
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17
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18
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19 "Her Highness wishes to see you now."
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20
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21 Highness? Who? Kairi's mind spun dizzily, her thoughts far too
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22 slippery to hold onto. Where was she? That thought alone felt far too
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23 familiar. She shouldn't always be wondering where she was. She just
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24 wanted to be back home on her islands with Riku and Sora. A boot
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25 prodded her shoulder, demanding her attention. Apparently the soldier
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26 didn't intent to let Kairi rest. The brunette blinked, trying to
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27 focus on the blurry world around her. Ever so slowly, it began to
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28 take shape once more. The castle, Relm, Yuffie, the princess... It
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29 all slowly came back to her.
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30
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31 "Now," the soldier insisted, her eyes narrowing. "The Queen doesn't
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32 like to be kept waiting."
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33
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34 Getting up on wobbly legs, Kairi followed the pretty knight quietly.
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35 It seemed that most of the knights here were women. Come to think of
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36 it, had she seen any boys at all since coming there? She shook the
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37 thought off. They had to be around somewhere.
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38
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39 Brushing some hair away from her eyes, Kairi let her eyes wander
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40 across the expansive hallway they were walking down. Gleaming suits
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41 of armor and magnificent paintings lined the walls. This kingdom
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42 obviously had a lot of wealth to throw around. A knight hefting a
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43 large painting into place caught her eye as they approached wide,
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44 ornate double doors. That painting... She couldn't recognize the
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45 woman in it, but it looked so real. Relm. It had to be. So she was
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46 still around somewhere. Despite the nervousness that spiralled in her
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47 stomach, she could feel a bit of hope blossoming up at the thought
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48 that she wasn't alone in this place. That meant Relm wasn't
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49 imprisoned. Maybe she knew what was going on. Even if she didn't, it
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50 would be so nice to have someone to be near again. She couldn't stand
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51 being alone for much longer. The loneliness was eating at her heart.
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52
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53 'That's why you killed yourself in the first place,' a familiar
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54 voice whispered in Kairi's head.
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55
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56 Closing her eyes tightly, the princess ignored the voice. 'I didn't
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57 kill myself. I'm right here. I'm alive. This isn't a dream. I won't
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58 let it be.' When she opened her eyes, they were in front of the
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59 double doors. She sighed, breathing deeply in an attempt to wash away
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60 her nervousness. Maybe she could explain things to the queen and see
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61 if she knew anything. Or maybe she had seen Riku or Sora. Or... She'd
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62 never know unless she tried. And, as she'd heard, the Queen wasn't a
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63 patient woman. Steeling herself, she entered the large chamber.
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64
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65 The knight bowed deeply after entering. Kairi only stared. The Queen
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66 was a huge woman, taking up all of the huge throne that she sat in.
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67 It took her a moment to realize the pretty, silver haired woman next
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68 to her was actually a man. But what astonished her the most was the
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69 presence of a harlequin in the large chamber. One with a particular
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70 smirk on her lips. "Harle!" Whatever else she might have said became
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71 a squeak as the knight's hand at the small of her back forced her
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72 into a tripping kneel. What was Harle doing here with these people?
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73 Whatever hope she'd had began to deflate as the Queen and her
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74 entourage continued to study her. They were staring at her as if she
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75 were some sort of thing, human only in form. It made her uneasy how
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76 they sized her up, making her feel vulnerable. This might have been a
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77 bad idea after all.
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78
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79 "So this is the one?" The queen asked curiously, not addressing
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80 Kairi in the least.
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81
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82 The silver haired man nodded, smiling faintly. "I believe so, your
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83 majesty. She certainly appears to be. If she's the girl we've been
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84 looking for, then the tragedies to your kingdom will soon cease. She
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85 will lock away the Heartless spreading through your kingdom." Walking
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86 slowly to Kairi, he watched the small girl in front of him. Reaching
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87 out, he took her jaw, tilting her face up. "We've finally found you."
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88
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89 A chill ran down Kairi's spine at his words. She slapped his hand
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90 away, taking a step back, but she already heard the knight behind
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91 her. "Don't touch me." She tried to put as much menace into her voice
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92 as she could muster, but she was suddenly feeling very, very alone.
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93 Even Harle was simply watching her. She was powerless to do anything.
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94 They had said they wanted her to seal the Heartless, but they didn't
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95 seem to feel like asking her. She shuddered. It seemed like they
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96 already had plans for her.
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97
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98 Laughing, the man's girn broadened. "So spirited. Just like the
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99 princess. This will be fun." The cruel glint in his eye made Kairi
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100 take another step backwards into the guard.
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101
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102 "Fun or not, I want you to hurry, Kuja. I've lost too many knights
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103 to those things. If they attack the castle again..." The Queen
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104 trailed off.
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105
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106 Kuja nodded, bowing low. "I am at your service, your majesty. The
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107 Heartless won't trouble you for much longer." Reaching forward, he
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108 grabbed Kairi's wrist tightly.The girl struggled, but the frail
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109 seeming man had a strength that far surpassed his frame. Stepping
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110 forward, he yanked Kairi along.
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111
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112 Kairi's worry had now become full blown panic. She was a prisoner
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113 here, whether or not she'd been in a cage. And she didn't think they
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114 just meant for her to lock a keyhole. She dug her heels into the
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115 ground, but the silver haired man easily pulled her stumbling after
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116 him. "Harle!! Help me!" she cried, nearly twisting her shoulder as
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117 she tried to get away.
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118
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119 The harlequin smiled enigmatically. "I am only ze court jester,
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120 Mademoiselle."
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121
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122 The queen sighed heavily. "Entertain me. This droll business tires
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123 me." She waved her hand halfheartedly. The Harlequin quickly complied
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124 as Kairi was dragged further and further away from her friends, from
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125 freedom.
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126
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127 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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128
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129 Okay, that wasn't too hard. Yuffie ducked around a corner, moving
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130 quickly and quietly. All she had to do to escape was act like she
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131 actually wanted to hear what the guard was saying. When the guard was
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132 close enough to the bars, Yuffie had grabbed one of her hands and
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133 told her she knew exactly how she felt, mustering all the sympathy
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134 she could into her eyes, which hadn't been all that difficult with
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135 how miserable she was feeling about Relm. While the guard was
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136 distracted to have someone finally listening to her, she'd
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137 pickpocketed the key to the cell. Thankfully, someone had dropped her
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138 Sleep Materia and it had rolled into her cell. She used it to keep
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139 people asleep while she was sneaking around houses in search of
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140 anything valuable. It worked just as well on the guard and she'd
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141 hurried to get her things that they'd left in the armory. Now she was
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142 ready for whatever they threw at her. Even that Beatrix lady. She
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143 hoped.
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144
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145 Whatever the case, she was back on track. Her first priority was to
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146 find the Keyblade Mistress. Guilt welled up inside of her, an angry
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147 inner voice that argued she could find her later. True. There was
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148 always treasure to be found and a palace like this should be full of
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149 valuable trinkets. Again a wave of guilt and sorrow that threatened
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150 to drown her, even more powerful than the first. 'Sheesh... Fine,
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151 fine. I'll go find Relm first.' She was pleased to find that she
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152 actually felt better with that plan of action. Still lousy and
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153 miserable, but better. Maybe she could apologize. Ick... She wanted
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154 to apologize? What was wrong with her? She shook her head. This whole
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155 thing was just getting weirder and weirder. Apologies were not her
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156 strong point. Neither was feeling guilty, for that matter. But she
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157 had been a bitch... And Relm had been completely devestated because
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158 of her. She'd never made a girl cry like that before, especially not
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159 one who appeared so devoted to her. She didn't like the feeling that
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160 accompanied it. Sneaking around the corner, she hoped she'd never
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161 have to feel that again.
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162
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163 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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164
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165 Dipping her feet in the icy water, Yuna watched her reflection. She
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166 was away from the others because she couldn't trust herself to smile.
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167 She couldn't slip on a smile for their sake no matter how much she
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168 wanted to. The warm waters of the Destiny Islands were growing colder
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169 and stormier. The hole that Tidus and Wakka had found just kept
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170 getting bigger. Everything felt so wrong. The adults were afraid,
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171 whispering to each other around the children. Everyone was worried
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172 about what might happen next. First Sora and Riku had disappeared and
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173 now Kairi went missing. Were the rest of them next? Would the Destiny
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174 Islands simply fade away?
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175
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176 That was exactly why she should be smiling. To give the others hope.
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177 Sometimes hope was the only thing you had. But Yuna's smile had
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178 proven elusive. She couldn't get herself to hope. She could only
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179 muster up fear and dread, feelings that didn't make for a very
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180 convincing smile.
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181
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182 Yuna sighed, pulling her feet out of the chilly water. Her image
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183 rippled in the wind, looking as distorted as she felt.
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184
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185 "What are you doing, Yunie?" a voice asked from behind the young
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186 summoner.
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187
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188 Yuna almost fell into the could water, shocked by the voice nearly
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189 in her ear. Strong paws grabbed her shoulders, hold her onto the tiny
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190 pier. "Rikku... You... startled me." She closed her mismatched eyes,
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191 trying to catch her breath. The catgirl moved like a thief in the
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192 night, something that Yuna was still getting used to. It was a little
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193 scary around the house, being snuck up on. Ever since her father had
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194 died, she had lived alone. Lulu had offered to let her stay with her
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195 and her parents, but Yuna had always declined. She didn't want Lulu
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196 to see how hoften she cried. She had to be strong. She couldn't let
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197 anyone see how weak she truly was. Even this new girl. She forced a
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198 smile to turn towards Rikku, but it crumbled into dust before she
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199 could turn around. Desperate, she kept her back to the catgirl. "I
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200 was just... thinking..." Yuna said at last. That much was true, at
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201 any rate.
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202
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203 Rikku nodded, sitting next to the brunette on the dock. She watched
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204 Yuna carefully. "What about, Yunie?" she asked at last.
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205
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206 “I…” She wasn’t sure if she should say but for some inexplicable
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207 reason she found she wanted to. It was strange since she didn’t even
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208 open up to those on the island that she had known so much longer, no
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209 matter how much she felt her head and heart were about to burst.
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210 Maybe… maybe it was because Rikku hadn’t been there long that she
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211 felt she could talk to her, because she could offer a new view and
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212 not just the predictable assurances that Lulu, Tidus and the others
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213 were bound to give her. She stared into the water some more, she
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214 couldn’t say anything, could she? Rikku had just gotten here, did she
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215 really want to scare her with horror stories of bottomless holes and
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216 the uncertain reflections of a frightened girl?
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217
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218 Rikku quietly watched the other girl, holding back the urge to
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219 fidget or nudge the girl into saying something or anything. She was
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220 managing to show an unusual amount of restraint for once. She noticed
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221 as the other girl clenched and unclenched her slender hands and
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222 before she could stop herself impulsely lay a paw on top a hand. She
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223 felt Yuna jump slightly and she just blurted out the first thing on
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224 her mind. “You can tell me anything, you know… I wouldn’t ever betray
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225 you…”
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226
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227 “You would never betray me?” Yuna asked, surprised enough to look up
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228 at Rikku. Plenty of people wouldn’t betray her but still… the way the
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229 catgirl had said it… she had meant it, but why?
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230
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231 Rikku blinked, surprised herself at what she had said. “I wouldn’t
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232 betray your secrets, I meant…” She backpedaled.
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233
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234 “Oh…” Yuna looked down again, she couldn’t deny she was disappointed.
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235
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236 Rikku instantly regretted bring that morose look back to her Yuna’s
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237 face, she was her ‘saviour’ after all. “Hey… but I… well I did mean
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238 it. You did save me after all, I owe you my life… that little violent
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239 girl would have pummeled me.”
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240
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241 Yuna slowly smiled,and then she began to giggle. “I don’t think
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242 Selphie would have really hurt you… well not that much.” She blushed,
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243 “I don’t think I did that much to save you…”
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244
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245 “No way, if it wasn’t for you I’d be gone…” She grasped Yuna’s hands
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246 in both her paws. “I swear I won’t leave you until I’ve done
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247 everything I can to make you, my -savior-’s life happy!”
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248
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249 Yuna blinked back tears, she didn’t know why but that completely
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250 unexpected, impulsive but passionate declaration hit her hard. Her
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251 hands pulled away from Rikku’s and she flung herself against a
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252 surprised kitty, wrapping her arms around a warm furry neck. She
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253 whispered a quiet ‘thank you’ and later when she calmed down began
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254 whispering a few more things, just happy to have someone listen.
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255
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256 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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257
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258 "It won't do you any good, princess." Nonetheless, Kuja seemed
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259 amused by Kairi's struggle with her bonds. He grinned, sipping
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260 something from a goblet as he watched her. "Yes, I know you're a
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261 princess. Princess Hikari from the kingdom of Hollow Bastion. I'm
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262 something of a troubleshooter for monarchs. I offer my services to
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263 help them in return for a fee. Not that I need the money, but it
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264 helps in my search. I even helped your father. I... 'acquired' a few
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265 specimens for his research on the Heartless."
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266
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267 Kairi stopped wrestling with the chains that held her in place and
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268 turned to look at the silver haired catman. She shivered at his
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269 predatory gaze. But she had to listen. He knew about her, about who
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270 she'd been before she woke up with no memories on the Destiny
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271 Islands. And for once, he wasn't saying she was a suicidal girl who
|
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rlm@2
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272 had been obsessed with escaping into Squaresoft games and Disney
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rlm@2
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273 movies. In a way, she needed to hear that, to hear that she really
|
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rlm@2
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274 had been a princess, had been a part of this, that it wasn't all just
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rlm@2
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275 her dying mind's fantasy. Even if she was shackled, even if he was
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rlm@2
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276 about to do horrible things to her, she still needed to know that
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rlm@2
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277 this was real. That Sora and Riku were real. That her journey hadn't
|
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rlm@2
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278 been for nothing. "Ansem... was my father?"
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279
|
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rlm@2
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280 Yes... She could remember that if she tried hard enough. She had
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rlm@2
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281 been his little princess. He'd loved her, but he'd always been so
|
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rlm@2
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282 busy with his research, obsessed with where it migh lead him. The
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283 Heartless... They had consumed Hollow Bastion, stealing the hearts of
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rlm@2
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284 all those who couldn't escape in time. All because of her father's
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rlm@2
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285 research. She remembered seeing the kingdom crumble, but only
|
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rlm@2
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286 vaguely, like a dim nightmare. How had she escaped? How had she been
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rlm@2
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287 able to get away from that? Nothing. She didn't remember anything
|
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rlm@2
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288 other than waking up on the Destiny Islands. But she could still
|
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rlm@2
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289 remember having a mother... Her best friend, the only person who
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rlm@2
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290 cared about her. She shook her head, trying to force the thoughts
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rlm@2
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291 away. Her mother was from the life of a lonely girl who had killed
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rlm@2
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292 herself. Ansem was from this life. But... She didn't want to deny her
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rlm@2
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293 mother's existence, even if it meant validating her own. But it had
|
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rlm@2
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294 to be one or the other, right? Her life with Riku and Sora or her
|
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rlm@2
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295 life as a lonely outcast. The answer was obvious. But why couldn't
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rlm@2
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296 she completely deny that lonely life, that room that kept haunting
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297 her?
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298
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rlm@2
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299 Laughing, Kuja nodded. "So you really don't remember that life? No
|
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rlm@2
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300 wonder Sephiroth has been staying away. And why he's wanted us to
|
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rlm@2
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301 stay away from you."
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rlm@2
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302
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rlm@2
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303 He crossed the room gracefully, his tail swishing behind him,
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rlm@2
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304 reminding Kairi of the kitty she'd had with her for so long. It made
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rlm@2
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305 her wish she was there with her. That anyone was there with her
|
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rlm@2
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306 besides this madman. Sephiroth? Why did he sound so familiar? And...
|
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rlm@2
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307 Her eyes widened. He must be in charge. And if he wanted them to stay
|
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rlm@2
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308 away from her... Her heart froze into a heavy chunk of ice that
|
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rlm@2
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309 plumetted into her stomach as Kuja got closer. She was suddenly even
|
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rlm@2
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310 more afraid of what he intended to do with her. "Why aren't you
|
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rlm@2
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311 listening to him? He... he could hurt you. There's a reason he's in
|
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rlm@2
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312 charge." She was bluffing, but she didn't care. She didn't know
|
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rlm@2
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313 enough about Sephiroth or why these people were working with him, but
|
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rlm@2
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314 she had to hope that Kuja would pause and consider letting her go. Or
|
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rlm@2
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315 at least not whatever he had on his mind.
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rlm@2
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316
|
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rlm@2
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317 Grinning wickedly, Kuja trailed a finger down her chin. She squirmed
|
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rlm@2
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318 under his touch, but couldn't do anything more. "Because once I have
|
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rlm@2
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319 what I want, Sephiroth won't be able to touch me. Nothing will. I
|
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rlm@2
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320 will never die. That specter of death that chases after all of us
|
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rlm@2
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321 will never reach me. I will be free of the chains of Fate. Free of
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rlm@2
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322 death and pain. The same freedom that you had before you threw it all
|
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rlm@2
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323 away."
|
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rlm@2
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324
|
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rlm@2
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325 Kairi jerked about in her chains to no avail, feeling his hand
|
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rlm@2
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326 trailing down her neck, moving lower. Tears burned in her eyes.
|
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rlm@2
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327 Anger, fear, frustration, and hopelessness boiled inside of her. "I
|
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rlm@2
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328 won't let you have the Keyblade! I'm going to save Riku, no matter
|
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rlm@2
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329 what happens to me," she got out shakily. Yes, no matter what
|
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rlm@2
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330 happened, she'd save him. She shook as his hand travelled lower,
|
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rlm@2
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331 finally stopping over her heart.
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rlm@2
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332
|
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rlm@2
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333 "It's not the Keyblade that I'm after." Kuja laughed, tilting his
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rlm@2
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334 head back. "That's merely a toy. Let Sephiroth play with it for all I
|
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rlm@2
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335 care." His deep, scarred eyes met Kairi's and the princess shuddered
|
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rlm@2
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336 at the desperation in him. "We're all afraid of death. But all of us
|
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rlm@2
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337 will eventually run out of time. It doesn't have to be that way. I've
|
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rlm@2
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338 found a way out. Through you."
|
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rlm@2
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339
|
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rlm@2
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340 Kairi's shoulders slumped, her body hanging limply in her bonds. She
|
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rlm@2
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341 was screwed. There wasn't anything she could do. No one knew where
|
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rlm@2
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342 she was. She was helpless to stop Kuja from taking something that she
|
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rlm@2
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343 innately knew was important to her. Something she hadn't even known
|
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rlm@2
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344 was there.
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rlm@2
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345
|
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rlm@2
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346 Kuja laughed. "Giving up already? You don't deserve it's power. I
|
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rlm@2
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347 never gave up. I'd rather kill all the universed than die alone.
|
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rlm@2
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348 That's what makes me worthy of it. I'll use it to it's fullest."
|
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rlm@2
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349
|
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rlm@2
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350 "What the hell are you talking about!?" Kairii cried out at last,
|
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rlm@2
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351 sick of the feeling of helplessness, of his hand pressed against her
|
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rlm@2
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352 chest, of the thoughts that she'd never set Riku free. She couldn't,
|
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rlm@2
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353 wouldn't fail him. But she couldn't see how she would ever get that
|
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rlm@2
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354 chance.
|
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rlm@2
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355
|
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rlm@2
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356 "Prism Hearts! The heart through which reality itself is filtered!"
|
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rlm@2
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357 Stepping back, Kuja gestured grandly. "Kingdom Hearts is the gateway
|
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rlm@2
|
358 to the heart of the universe, to the birthplace of darkness and
|
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rlm@2
|
359 light. But such concepts bore me. Prism Hearts, on the other hand, is
|
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rlm@2
|
360 what shapes that darkness and light into the world around us. It's
|
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rlm@2
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361 what shapes the reality we live in. The power to reshape reality as
|
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rlm@2
|
362 you see fit. The power of a god. It all lies within Prism Hearts." He
|
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rlm@2
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363 grinned as if he were sharing a private joke, leaning close enough
|
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rlm@2
|
364 that his nose almost touched Kairi's. "Which lies within you."
|
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rlm@2
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365
|
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rlm@2
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366 Kuja didn't even flinch as Kairi began thrashing in her restraints.
|
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rlm@2
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367 "Stay away from me! You're insane! I'm just a girl who wants to find
|
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rlm@2
|
368 her friends." She swallowed, trying to keep her gaze angry. What was
|
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rlm@2
|
369 all this about? It wasn't true. It couldn't be. Parallel visions
|
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rlm@2
|
370 flashed through her head, struggling for dominance. One world where
|
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rlm@2
|
371 she was a princess, searching for the boys she loved. One world where
|
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rlm@2
|
372 she was a lonely suicidal girl who was dying in her bedroom. She
|
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rlm@2
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373 could feel the shackles on one hand, blood dripping down the other.
|
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rlm@2
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374 Was she lying on the floor or was she in Kuja's demented torture
|
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rlm@2
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375 chamber? Which was better? She felt so weak all of the sudden,
|
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rlm@2
|
376 feeling the carpet soaking with blood, her blood, underneath her.
|
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rlm@2
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377 No... Her thoughts were drowning as she felt herself sinking deeper
|
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rlm@2
|
378 and deeper. So tired...
|
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rlm@2
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379
|
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rlm@2
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380 Kuja... Where was Kuja?
|
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rlm@2
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381
|
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rlm@2
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382 "He's far away. He can't hurt you here," the mysterious voice said
|
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rlm@2
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383 from the other side of the door.
|
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rlm@2
|
384
|
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rlm@2
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385 Kairi struggled to sit up and get to the door, but her body refused
|
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rlm@2
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386 to listen. Everything felt cold and numb. Her fingers moved dimly in
|
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rlm@2
|
387 an attempt to reassert control of her body, but that was the most
|
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rlm@2
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388 they could do. Blood stained the floor around her, yet somehow she
|
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rlm@2
|
389 was too drained to do much more than acknowledge it.
|
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rlm@2
|
390
|
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rlm@2
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391 "Just rest, Kairi. It can end here. You can stop struggling so hard.
|
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rlm@2
|
392 You can finally rest. That's what you wanted, isn't it? That's why
|
|
rlm@2
|
393 you slit your wrists, right?"
|
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rlm@2
|
394
|
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rlm@2
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395 No... She tried to speak, but her lips merely quivered. Her eyelids
|
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rlm@2
|
396 felt so terribly heavy, as if the weight of the world rested on each
|
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rlm@2
|
397 one. Somehow she knew that the voice was right. It could end here.
|
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rlm@2
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398 She didn't have to go back. Facing Kuja was her choice. And she was
|
|
rlm@2
|
399 currently unable to do anything to stop him. And she was so very
|
|
rlm@2
|
400 tired... Her eyes began to slip shut as a familiar lullaby began to
|
|
rlm@2
|
401 whisper through the door. A lullaby her mother used to sing her. Yes,
|
|
rlm@2
|
402 she could finally escape. No one could ever hurt her again. She
|
|
rlm@2
|
403 didn't have to keep being the outsider. She didn't have to keep
|
|
rlm@2
|
404 playing in a world that never wanted her. All she had to do was
|
|
rlm@2
|
405 rest...
|
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rlm@2
|
406
|
|
rlm@2
|
407 But... But she wasn't alone... There were people who needed her.
|
|
rlm@2
|
408 Riku. Sora. She couldn't give up. Not until she set Riku free. No
|
|
rlm@2
|
409 matter what had brought her to this point, broken and bloody on her
|
|
rlm@2
|
410 floor, she couldn't let that stop her. She couldn't leave Riku and
|
|
rlm@2
|
411 Sora. Not yet. Her bloody, shaky fingers clenched slowly. It wasn't
|
|
rlm@2
|
412 time to rest. There would be time for that later. 'Riku... I won't
|
|
rlm@2
|
413 give up on you. Ever.' She wasn't dying. She was searching for her
|
|
rlm@2
|
414 friends. This place... it was a nightmare. She had to wake up before
|
|
rlm@2
|
415 it consumed her. Or she'd never get back to her friends. With all the
|
|
rlm@2
|
416 strength she had, she forced her eyes back open.
|
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rlm@2
|
417
|
|
rlm@2
|
418 Blinking weakly, the room came back into view. She was still in the
|
|
rlm@2
|
419 dark yet elegant dungeon that Kuja had set up especially for the
|
|
rlm@2
|
420 maiden he was searching for. Her. She sighed shakily, slumping in her
|
|
rlm@2
|
421 chains. She had been about to die. If she'd stayed there... Her heart
|
|
rlm@2
|
422 pounded at the thought. What was going on? What was happening to her?
|
|
rlm@2
|
423 Blinking quickly, she tried to bury the fear and hopelessness that
|
|
rlm@2
|
424 threatened to overwhelm her. What was real? What was her imagination?
|
|
rlm@2
|
425 These chains felt so real, but so had the bloodsoaked carpet she'd
|
|
rlm@2
|
426 been laying on. She didn't know anymore. She didn't know anything
|
|
rlm@2
|
427 anymore. No, she couldn't think like that. There were still Sora and
|
|
rlm@2
|
428 Riku. She had to believe in them. She had to. It was all she had left.
|
|
rlm@2
|
429
|
|
rlm@2
|
430 Kuja... Where had he gone? Lavender eyes darted around the chamber,
|
|
rlm@2
|
431 trying to spot the silver haired man. He didn't seem to be anywhere
|
|
rlm@2
|
432 in sight. What she did see didn't exactly put her at ease. The two
|
|
rlm@2
|
433 blonde twins she had met earlier watched her from a raised platform,
|
|
rlm@2
|
434 resting against each other as if they had just finished playing. They
|
|
rlm@2
|
435 both watched her intently, almost as if they were waiting for
|
|
rlm@2
|
436 something. Licking her lips, Kairi tried to think of something to
|
|
rlm@2
|
437 say. Anything. At least she wasn't alone. She couldn't stand being
|
|
rlm@2
|
438 alone. "Where did he go?" she asked at last.
|
|
rlm@2
|
439
|
|
rlm@2
|
440 "Away," one replied, the two still watching the princess intently.
|
|
rlm@2
|
441
|
|
rlm@2
|
442 Not exactly the response she'd been hoping for, but it was
|
|
rlm@2
|
443 something. Before she could think of what to say next, the twins
|
|
rlm@2
|
444 interrupted her thoughts.
|
|
rlm@2
|
445
|
|
rlm@2
|
446 "You can't let him have Prism Hearts. If you do, he'll tear all of
|
|
rlm@2
|
447 this apart. Everything you love, everything you care about, all of it
|
|
rlm@2
|
448 will be obliterated and filtered into his own dream world. Everything
|
|
rlm@2
|
449 will be reborn as he sees fit. Before it can be reshaped, everything
|
|
rlm@2
|
450 must be shattered. Then he can mold it however he wishes. All he
|
|
rlm@2
|
451 needs is your heart," Maya explained.
|
|
rlm@2
|
452
|
|
rlm@2
|
453 Kairi shuddered. Everything gone, replaced by Kuja's dreams. Her
|
|
rlm@2
|
454 hair fell about her face as she shook her head. "No, that's a lie. I
|
|
rlm@2
|
455 don't have Prism Hearts. My heart doesn't change anything. If it did,
|
|
rlm@2
|
456 I wouldn't be chained up in some dungeon away from the boys I love.
|
|
rlm@2
|
457 I'd be on the Destiny Islands with all of my friends. I'd be looking
|
|
rlm@2
|
458 out to sea with Riku and Sora. Being fed grapes. And..."
|
|
rlm@2
|
459
|
|
rlm@2
|
460 Blushing faintly, the other little girl interrupted before Kairi
|
|
rlm@2
|
461 could get further. "It doesn't work that way. It's subconscious. Your
|
|
rlm@2
|
462 heart molds reality, not your mind. This is happening because you're
|
|
rlm@2
|
463 in conflict. Things aren't happy and perfect because part of you
|
|
rlm@2
|
464 won't accept this reality. Part of you is still clinging to the old
|
|
rlm@2
|
465 reality. So that dark reality has intruded."
|
|
rlm@2
|
466
|
|
rlm@2
|
467 "The Heartless..." Kairi whispered. That's when everything had
|
|
rlm@2
|
468 started to go wrong. Everything was perfect before the Heartless had
|
|
rlm@2
|
469 spread throughout the worlds.
|
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rlm@2
|
470
|
|
rlm@2
|
471 Aya nodded. "Exactly. There is darkness and light in every heart.
|
|
rlm@2
|
472 But this was all a refuge from the darkness. But because you couldn't
|
|
rlm@2
|
473 fully close the doorway to the old world, the darkness began to leak
|
|
rlm@2
|
474 in. Ansem found it and began researching it, but he was never its
|
|
rlm@2
|
475 cause. He was used by it and his own curiosity."
|
|
rlm@2
|
476
|
|
rlm@2
|
477 "You're the one who allowed the Heartless here. You're the one who
|
|
rlm@2
|
478 left the door open for them. The Heartless in this reality were born
|
|
rlm@2
|
479 inside of Kingdom Hearts because you brought the darkness over from
|
|
rlm@2
|
480 the other reality."
|
|
rlm@2
|
481
|
|
rlm@2
|
482 "I wouldn't do that!! I wouldn't risk losing any of this! I
|
|
rlm@2
|
483 couldn't! I just want to be with them.." Kairi's voice broke, her
|
|
rlm@2
|
484 throat tightening. Why would she allow the Heartless here? How could
|
|
rlm@2
|
485 she be the cause of all this pain and suffering? The reason behind
|
|
rlm@2
|
486 why she'd lost both Riku and Sora?
|
|
rlm@2
|
487
|
|
rlm@2
|
488 "You wouldn't?" Maya raised a blonde eyebrow. "You can't give up
|
|
rlm@2
|
489 your mother, can you, Kairi? You won't completely turn your back on
|
|
rlm@2
|
490 the other reality. So the door is still open through your heart,
|
|
rlm@2
|
491 Prism Hearts. You refuse to filter out all of that reality. The
|
|
rlm@2
|
492 darkness is part of that reality. If you won't filter it all out, it
|
|
rlm@2
|
493 will spill over here."
|
|
rlm@2
|
494
|
|
rlm@2
|
495 "Sacrifices have to be made. If you want to live in this world, you
|
|
rlm@2
|
496 have to give up on that one. Completely. Entirely. You have to forget
|
|
rlm@2
|
497 that life. You must offer up your memories of it as a sacrifice to
|
|
rlm@2
|
498 save this reality," Aya insisted.
|
|
rlm@2
|
499
|
|
rlm@2
|
500 "But..." Kairi's head spun. It couldn't be... She couldn't have
|
|
rlm@2
|
501 brought about the Heartless. That other world, it couldn't be out
|
|
rlm@2
|
502 there. And yet... "Which... Which one is real?" Her voice was weak,
|
|
rlm@2
|
503 begging, pleading. She needed to know, even if she didn't want to.
|
|
rlm@2
|
504
|
|
rlm@2
|
505 The twins were silent for a long moment before they answered in
|
|
rlm@2
|
506 unison. "Which one do you want to be real?"
|
|
rlm@2
|
507
|
|
rlm@2
|
508 "It doesn't work that way!" Kairi argued, frustrated that there
|
|
rlm@2
|
509 never seemed to be any clear cut answers for her.
|
|
rlm@2
|
510
|
|
rlm@2
|
511 Aya turned and looked at Maya. "You'd be surprised," she whispered.
|
|
rlm@2
|
512
|
|
rlm@2
|
513 Maya continued looking at the princess. "Give up on the other
|
|
rlm@2
|
514 reality. It's the only way to save this one."
|
|
rlm@2
|
515
|
|
rlm@2
|
516 Swallowing back the pain, Kairi raised her eyes to look at the
|
|
rlm@2
|
517 twins. "How do I do that?" She had to. For Riku. For Sora. They had
|
|
rlm@2
|
518 both done so much to save her. She had to save them this time. She
|
|
rlm@2
|
519 wouldn't let anything bad happen to them. All of her friends...
|
|
rlm@2
|
520 Selphie, Yuffie, Relm, even her cute little kitten... She couldn't
|
|
rlm@2
|
521 let them go.
|
|
rlm@2
|
522
|
|
rlm@2
|
523 "You have to confront yourself. Your own dark side. The part of you
|
|
rlm@2
|
524 that won't give up on the other reality. Only after you get rid of
|
|
rlm@2
|
525 her, when you can give up on that reality entirely, can this one be
|
|
rlm@2
|
526 saved." The two girls turned to leave.
|
|
rlm@2
|
527
|
|
rlm@2
|
528 "Wait! How am I supposed to confront myself? What do I do?"
|
|
rlm@2
|
529 Watching, Kairi pulled ineffectively at her chains. "Please don't
|
|
rlm@2
|
530 go..." she whispered. Not alone. Not again...
|
|
rlm@2
|
531
|
|
rlm@2
|
532 Aya stopped while Maya kept walking. She turned to look over her
|
|
rlm@2
|
533 shoulder at Kairi, her eyes soft and understanding. "I know it's
|
|
rlm@2
|
534 hard, Kairi. But everything demands a sacrifice. It's this reality or
|
|
rlm@2
|
535 the other reality. You have to decide for yourself which is real. But
|
|
rlm@2
|
536 some sacrifices are worth it." She turned to see Maya waiting for
|
|
rlm@2
|
537 her. "I made my choice a long time ago and I've never looked back."
|
|
rlm@2
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538 She smiled faintly and waved to her waiting sister. "Whatever you
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|
rlm@2
|
539 choose, give it your all and don't ever regret your decision." With
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rlm@2
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540 that, she ran to catch up to the identical girl, fading into mist.
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rlm@2
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541
|
|
rlm@2
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542 A slight breeze entered the vast chamber, swirling the mist about
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rlm@2
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543 into nothingness. Something caught in the sudden wind fluttered over
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rlm@2
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544 to Kairi, landing lightly at her feet. It was a child's drawing.
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|
rlm@2
|
545 'Mama and Maya' was written at the top in crayon. Even in a child's
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|
rlm@2
|
546 artwork, it was unmistakeble. There had been a car crash. Plenty of
|
|
rlm@2
|
547 red crayon showed the aftermath. A blonde woman and a blonde girl
|
|
rlm@2
|
548 watched it all from above with angel wings. The same woman and girl
|
|
rlm@2
|
549 were in the car as well. Kairi's head jerked up, hoping to catch a
|
|
rlm@2
|
550 last glimpse of the little girl, her words suddenly coming back to
|
|
rlm@2
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551 haunt the princess.
|
|
rlm@2
|
552
|
|
rlm@2
|
553 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
rlm@2
|
554
|
|
rlm@2
|
555 "I heard Lady Beatrix has been seeing someone lately," a knight with
|
|
rlm@2
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556 blonde hair mentioned conversationally.
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|
rlm@2
|
557
|
|
rlm@2
|
558 "Really?" her compatriot asked with a note of disappointment in her
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|
rlm@2
|
559 voice, leaning against the wall. "That's not fair." She crossed her
|
|
rlm@2
|
560 arms, pouting.
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rlm@2
|
561
|
|
rlm@2
|
562 The other knight laughed, turning to the brunette. "You didn't think
|
|
rlm@2
|
563 you had a chance with her, did you?"
|
|
rlm@2
|
564
|
|
rlm@2
|
565 "Well... No, not exactly... But..." She whined, trailing off.
|
|
rlm@2
|
566
|
|
rlm@2
|
567 "Don't you want to know who I heard she'd been seeing?" the first
|
|
rlm@2
|
568 soldier asked.
|
|
rlm@2
|
569
|
|
rlm@2
|
570 "Why would I want to know that? It only crushes all my hopes and
|
|
rlm@2
|
571 dreams," the second replied.
|
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rlm@2
|
572
|
|
rlm@2
|
573 Laughing, the blonde shook her head. "You're really stuck on her,
|
|
rlm@2
|
574 aren't you? I heard she's been going out with some airship pilot from
|
|
rlm@2
|
575 Lindblum. I think her name's Erin, but I'm not sure."
|
|
rlm@2
|
576
|
|
rlm@2
|
577 The brunette sighed, sliding down the wall. "I should've been an
|
|
rlm@2
|
578 airship pilot..." Lost in her thoughts, she didn't see the shadow
|
|
rlm@2
|
579 darting behind the two of them.
|
|
rlm@2
|
580
|
|
rlm@2
|
581 'Ha! That was too easy. These knights might be good fighters, but
|
|
rlm@2
|
582 they obviously haven't dealt with a world-class thief before.'
|
|
rlm@2
|
583 Grinning to herself, Yuffie hurried down the hallway. With the
|
|
rlm@2
|
584 expansive palace to search, it was taking her longer than she'd
|
|
rlm@2
|
585 wanted to find the artist girl. But the knights didn't seem to mind
|
|
rlm@2
|
586 gossiping, so she'd managed to overhear them talking about the
|
|
rlm@2
|
587 sorceress who could bring paintings to life. Apparently she was in
|
|
rlm@2
|
588 this part of the palace. Somewhere. She could go room by room, but
|
|
rlm@2
|
589 somehow she doubted it would only result in embarrassment. The
|
|
rlm@2
|
590 knights wouldn't take a hearty 'Sorry, ma'am' if she burst in on
|
|
rlm@2
|
591 someone.
|
|
rlm@2
|
592
|
|
rlm@2
|
593 Now where could Relm be? What was she looking for, anyway? A big
|
|
rlm@2
|
594 neon sign that announced she'd found Relm's room? There had to be an
|
|
rlm@2
|
595 easier (and less dangerous) way to go about this than going door to
|
|
rlm@2
|
596 door. More importantly, what did she say to the artist when she met
|
|
rlm@2
|
597 up with her? Would Relm even want to talk to her? After what a bitch
|
|
rlm@2
|
598 she'd been, she'd be surprised if the little blonde girl even wanted
|
|
rlm@2
|
599 to continue travelling with her. That thought scared her more than
|
|
rlm@2
|
600 she wanted to admit. She'd apologize. That would have to be enough.
|
|
rlm@2
|
601 She hoped.
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|
rlm@2
|
602
|
|
rlm@2
|
603 A sound down the hallway broke her train of thought. Ducking back
|
|
rlm@2
|
604 behind a large potted plant, the ninja waited silently. One of the
|
|
rlm@2
|
605 heavy doors had opened and someone had stepped out into the hallway.
|
|
rlm@2
|
606 There were at least two people, and they were talking about
|
|
rlm@2
|
607 something. Yuffie strained to hear what they were saying.
|
|
rlm@2
|
608
|
|
rlm@2
|
609 "... wanted to thank you again. It's absolutely gorgeous. I finally
|
|
rlm@2
|
610 have a portrait that I'm not ashamed to show my parents."
|
|
rlm@2
|
611
|
|
rlm@2
|
612 A soft giggle. "It was fun. It was nice to have such a willing
|
|
rlm@2
|
613 subject. Some people make painting them so difficult because they
|
|
rlm@2
|
614 don't really want you to. I think it turned out really well."
|
|
rlm@2
|
615
|
|
rlm@2
|
616 "Not that you needed me there. It's much more beautiful than I could
|
|
rlm@2
|
617 ever be," the first voice said with a sigh.
|
|
rlm@2
|
618
|
|
rlm@2
|
619 "That's not true. I don't paint lies. The beauty was there, you just
|
|
rlm@2
|
620 have to look for it. Someday someone will see you just like in the
|
|
rlm@2
|
621 picture."
|
|
rlm@2
|
622
|
|
rlm@2
|
623 A happy squeal of delight filled the hallway. "I can't wait. Thank
|
|
rlm@2
|
624 you very much, Sorceress Relm. I'll always remember this."
|
|
rlm@2
|
625
|
|
rlm@2
|
626 Relm! Yuffie's eyes widened. She'd found her. Now she just had to
|
|
rlm@2
|
627 get to her. And try not to stumble over her apology.
|
|
rlm@2
|
628
|
|
rlm@2
|
629 "Anytime. I'm happy to get the chance to paint. I want to paint
|
|
rlm@2
|
630 things from all over different worlds."
|
|
rlm@2
|
631
|
|
rlm@2
|
632 "I'll pray for your safe journey. I'd love to see a gallery of
|
|
rlm@2
|
633 different worlds rendered in your gorgeous artwork."
|
|
rlm@2
|
634
|
|
rlm@2
|
635 Flattered, it took Relm a second to reply. "I'll make sure I send
|
|
rlm@2
|
636 you an invitation when I finally get it all together."
|
|
rlm@2
|
637
|
|
rlm@2
|
638 "Thanks so much again, Sorceress Relm." The knight began down the
|
|
rlm@2
|
639 hallway.
|
|
rlm@2
|
640
|
|
rlm@2
|
641 Yuffie pressed into the wall, trying to will herself to disappear.
|
|
rlm@2
|
642 There wasn't a lot of cover in these hallways. The plant was large,
|
|
rlm@2
|
643 but if the knight stopped to look, she'd be caught. Her only hope was
|
|
rlm@2
|
644 that the guard was distracted enough not to be paying attention. The
|
|
rlm@2
|
645 other two knights were right down the hallway. If she made any noise,
|
|
rlm@2
|
646 they'd be there in moments. And she didn't feel like facing down
|
|
rlm@2
|
647 three knights if she could help it. Not that she doubted her
|
|
rlm@2
|
648 abilities. Just that... three knights would be an inconvenience.
|
|
rlm@2
|
649 Yeah, that was it. An inconvenience.
|
|
rlm@2
|
650
|
|
rlm@2
|
651 The knight came and went, passing by without a second glance. Yuffie
|
|
rlm@2
|
652 let out a breath she hadn't known she'd been holding and crept
|
|
rlm@2
|
653 towards the door the knight had exited from. Her heart pounded as she
|
|
rlm@2
|
654 neared the door. Her mind tried desperately to piece together a
|
|
rlm@2
|
655 suitable apology so she wouldn't just say the first stupid thing that
|
|
rlm@2
|
656 came to mind. 'Hi, Relm. Sorry about earlier. Hey, lets go find Kairi
|
|
rlm@2
|
657 now.' She sighed. She wasn't good with apologies. But she couldn't
|
|
rlm@2
|
658 stall forever. She had a bad feeling that Kairi needed her. Soon.
|
|
rlm@2
|
659
|
|
rlm@2
|
660 Taking the last few silent steps to the door, Yuffie gently took the
|
|
rlm@2
|
661 doorknob. Her heart pounded anxiously in her chest. Relm was just on
|
|
rlm@2
|
662 the other side of the door. So why was she so scared? 'Because this
|
|
rlm@2
|
663 time it might not be you doing the rejection.' The thought sprang to
|
|
rlm@2
|
664 mind, but she instantly shot it down. 'And what the hell is that
|
|
rlm@2
|
665 supposed to mean?' No answer. She swallowed and summoned all of her
|
|
rlm@2
|
666 courage. It was silly, summoning all of her courage to face a girl a
|
|
rlm@2
|
667 full head shorter than her. But she somehow felt that she'd need it.
|
|
rlm@2
|
668 Achingly slowly, the door pushed open.
|
|
rlm@2
|
669
|
|
rlm@2
|
670 Her mouth open, Yuffie paused before she could say something. There
|
|
rlm@2
|
671 were already voices in the spacious room. Frowning, she glimpsed
|
|
rlm@2
|
672 inside and tried to spot their sources. There, on the bed. She could
|
|
rlm@2
|
673 spot Relm's intricate red and gold bandana near their feet. The
|
|
rlm@2
|
674 artist was sitting on the bed with an older blonde woman who looked
|
|
rlm@2
|
675 vaguely familiar. The older woman was running fingers through Relm's
|
|
rlm@2
|
676 hair as they sat close to each other. Yuffie's hand clenched tightly
|
|
rlm@2
|
677 on the doorknob. What was going on? Who was that lady?
|
|
rlm@2
|
678
|
|
rlm@2
|
679 "You did a beautiful job, Relm," the elegant woman said.
|
|
rlm@2
|
680
|
|
rlm@2
|
681 "Thanks, Celeste. I'm so glad you think so," Relm said softly,
|
|
rlm@2
|
682 resting against the taller woman, not seeming concerned with the
|
|
rlm@2
|
683 fingers sliding through her hair. She closed her eyes, sighing
|
|
rlm@2
|
684 softly.
|
|
rlm@2
|
685
|
|
rlm@2
|
686 Taking Relm's chin with one hand, she turned the younger girl's gaze
|
|
rlm@2
|
687 up to her. "Of course I think so. I always think so, Relm. I love
|
|
rlm@2
|
688 you." Leaning down, she kissed Relm softly.
|
|
rlm@2
|
689
|
|
rlm@2
|
690 It was all Yuffie could do to keep the doorknob from shaking in her
|
|
rlm@2
|
691 grasp. Her gaze remained locked on the two women on the bed. It was
|
|
rlm@2
|
692 unreal. Her mind wouldn't accept it for a long moment. It wasn't
|
|
rlm@2
|
693 happening. Relm was not kissing another woman. Relm wasn't making
|
|
rlm@2
|
694 soft sounds as the blonde woman's fingers continued to caress through
|
|
rlm@2
|
695 her hair. It... wasn't... real... She closed her eyes tightly, but
|
|
rlm@2
|
696 the image remained when she opened them again, albeit blurrier this
|
|
rlm@2
|
697 time. Her eyes stung painfully as she watched the image before her
|
|
rlm@2
|
698 helplessly.
|
|
rlm@2
|
699
|
|
rlm@2
|
700 "Celeste..." Relm whispered softly, resting her head on the other
|
|
rlm@2
|
701 woman's shoulder. Her arms wrapped around Celeste tightly.
|
|
rlm@2
|
702
|
|
rlm@2
|
703 Slam. Relm jumped at the sudden sound. She turned, but no one was at
|
|
rlm@2
|
704 her door. She let out a shaky sigh and held on tighter.
|
|
rlm@2
|
705
|
|
rlm@2
|
706 Yuffie ran back down the hallway. Get away. Escape. Leave. It all
|
|
rlm@2
|
707 swirled about her. Damn it. That wasn't supposed to happen. She
|
|
rlm@2
|
708 didn't want that. Relm had found someone else? But how? Part of her
|
|
rlm@2
|
709 had thought Relm would always be there, always following, always
|
|
rlm@2
|
710 devoted to her. Logically she knew that wasn't likely, but she hadn't
|
|
rlm@2
|
711 given it any thought. She'd taken Relm's presence for granted. And
|
|
rlm@2
|
712 now she was in another woman's arms... 'She wasn't yours to begin
|
|
rlm@2
|
713 with,' she told herself. 'Shut up! Shut up!' Her eyes burned, images
|
|
rlm@2
|
714 bleeding into wet messes of color in front of her. 'Jealous?' that
|
|
rlm@2
|
715 sarcastic voice inside of herself asked. She muffled a sob as she
|
|
rlm@2
|
716 held her head tightly. She'd lost her chance. Relm hadn't waited for
|
|
rlm@2
|
717 her to make up her mind. And why should she have? Yuffie had all but
|
|
rlm@2
|
718 told her to get lost. There was no reason for her to wait around for
|
|
rlm@2
|
719 something that probably never would have happened. But somehow that
|
|
rlm@2
|
720 knowledge just made Yuffie feel worse.
|
|
rlm@2
|
721
|
|
rlm@2
|
722 In her current state, Yuffie barely managed to stop before barelling
|
|
rlm@2
|
723 into a figure in front of her. Her instincts told her to grab her
|
|
rlm@2
|
724 shuriken, but she was too weak to bother with it. Escape the guards
|
|
rlm@2
|
725 and then what? Was Relm even coming with them anymore? She had to
|
|
rlm@2
|
726 save Kairi. The Keyblade Mistress was her responsibility. But she
|
|
rlm@2
|
727 felt so weak. Everything seemed so far away. Except for that icy,
|
|
rlm@2
|
728 ragged feeling inside of her. She couldn't seem to escape that.
|
|
rlm@2
|
729 Thankfully, she realized that the figure was too small to be a guard.
|
|
rlm@2
|
730 She blinked rapidly, noting that the girl was a little shorter than
|
|
rlm@2
|
731 Relm. She have lavender hair and a small horn jutting out of her
|
|
rlm@2
|
732 forehead. A Caller?
|
|
rlm@2
|
733
|
|
rlm@2
|
734 "So you're just gonna run off?" the summoner asked, her hands on her
|
|
rlm@2
|
735 hips. "You'd rather go cry than try and get her back?" Her voice was
|
|
rlm@2
|
736 angry, obviously not pleased with Yuffie's choice.
|
|
rlm@2
|
737
|
|
rlm@2
|
738 "I'm not crying!" Yuffie swiped at her eyes with the back of her
|
|
rlm@2
|
739 glove, disappointed to see it come away tear-soaked. She didn't cry.
|
|
rlm@2
|
740 She was stronger than that. She'd learned a long time ago that she
|
|
rlm@2
|
741 was the only one she could count on. This just reinforced that point.
|
|
rlm@2
|
742 She had to trust in herself. Everything else would fail you.
|
|
rlm@2
|
743
|
|
rlm@2
|
744 "If she means anything at all to you, then you'll go back in there
|
|
rlm@2
|
745 and talk to her. Take her back. Don't just give up," Eiko insisted,
|
|
rlm@2
|
746 standing her ground in front of the taller ninja.
|
|
rlm@2
|
747
|
|
rlm@2
|
748 "You don't understand... I... I can't..." Yuffie let a small object
|
|
rlm@2
|
749 drop from her fingers. The smoke bomb burst when it hit the floor,
|
|
rlm@2
|
750 surrounding her with the thick cloud. When it disappeared, she was
|
|
rlm@2
|
751 gone.
|
|
rlm@2
|
752
|
|
rlm@2
|
753
|
