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1 Prism Hearts
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2 Chapter 13
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3 Final Distance
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4 by Amazoness Duo
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5 amazonessduo@hotmail.com
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6
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7
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8
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9 Stars were falling. It was as if the universe itself were crying.
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10 They plumetted one after the other, falling from their perches in the
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11 sky. They never grew in size, tiny droplets of stars falling around
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12 her, winking out of existence when they touched the ground, their
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13 magic disappearing when they no longer soared in the heavens. And
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14 still they fell, creating a light drizzle of stars, beautiful
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15 luminescent teardrops.
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16
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17 And this is where we find our heroine, in the
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18 midst of raining stars, lying unconscious and curled up on the
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19 shadowed ground. Quiet footsteps echo nearby, moving with a silent
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20 purpose through this darkened land. Sparkling dew of dying stars
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21 bathe Kairi as she struggles to remember, to hold off whatever is
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22 trying to end her sojourn. Something that is very close indeed.
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23
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24 Weary eyes slowly blinked themselves open. The fact that she wasn't
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25 alone
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26 in a room on her bed comforted her, but only for a moment. Her
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27 fingers scrabbled along the cold ground, finally managing to push
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28 herself up to her knees. A tiny star, smaller than a snowflake,
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29 landed upon her nose. It was warm to the touch, fading slowly.
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30 Glancing around her, she could see thousands of other stars falling,
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31 raining about her. It was beautiful. They were the only light in this
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32 endless night. Cupping her hands, she reached out, watching as
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33 several stars landed in her hands. They helped warm her cold hands,
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34 their light casting shadows around her as they slowly began fading.
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35
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36 Holding the stars to her chest, Kairi began to see what else was
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37 around her. Just where was she? This place held no familiarity to
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38 her, nothing that she had ever seen before. Everywhere else, she knew
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39 from someplace. 'From Squaresoft games and Disney movies,' a part of
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40 her kindly added before she could force it away. But this place... An
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41 involuntary shudder passed through her. She had never seen this place
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42 before, had never been there. And once again, she was all alone.
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43 There were no friends to stand by her, no one to catch her when she
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44 stumbled.
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45
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46 Getting to her feet, Kairi brushed some of the glistening
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47 dew from the stars off of her clothes. All around her were objects of
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48 varying shapes and sizes, some not much more than stones with
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49 etchings in them and others large and intricate statues. Kairi
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50 clenched her fists, her fingernails digging into her palms. Fear
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51 wasn't going to get the better of her. She had to push forward. 'Or
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52 you could give up. It's almost over, you know. This can't end the way
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53 you want it to, Kairi. Come back home. Give up on these dreams.'
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54 Shaking her chestnut hair, Kairi held her head. “Leave me alone.” Her
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55 voice sounded so quiet, nothing more than a whisper. Her fingernails
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56 scratched against her temples, almost wishing she could claw the
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57 voice out of her head.
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58
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59 Making her way to the nearest of the objects,
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60 Kairi strained her eyes to make out the etched words under the
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61 statue. It seemed to be a beautiful mermaid, it's arms outstretched
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62 to the skies above. The falling stars made it look like it was
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63 crying. Kairi felt sorry for it, reaching up to brush the glowing
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64 tears away. “You don't like it here, either, do you?” she asked
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65 quietly. More stars fell, finally illuminating the placard beneath.
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66 Bending down, the princess brushed some hair out of her eyes to read
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67 it.
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68
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69 'Here lie the dreams of Kathryn. From the gentle sea of her soul
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70 they rose, but the storm that ravaged her heart sank them. May they
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71 forever roam tranquil seas as they wait for her to return to them.'
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72
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73 “What's that supposed to mean?” Kairi ran her fingers over the cool
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74 stone and etched words. A grave? But why? Not for this Kathryn, but
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75 for her dreams? Standing up, curiosity gnawing at her, the princess
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76 moved to the next one.
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77
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78 A graceful unicorn stood atop the next marker. It almost looked real
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79 in the half lit darkness that draped over the entire area. A sigh
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80 escaped Kairi's lips. If only it was real. She could climb on it and
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81 go far, far away from this cold, lonely place.
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82
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83 'When a child grows,
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84 her dreams change and some come and go. Chiyomi's dreams as a child
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85 have been replaced by a new dream. May those that filled her nights
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86 long ago never lose their magic where they are now.'
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87
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88 The next was of two women entwined, holding each other amidst the
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89 falling stars. It read:
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90
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91 'Megumi used to dream of the future she would
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92 spend with her love. But this dream died when she found out she
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93 wouldn't live long enough to see it fulfilled. Soon, she will be
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94 joining them.'
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95
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96 “What is this place?” Kairi stepped away from the
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97 statues. This place wasn't a far away kingdom or a city at the edge
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98 of forever. This was...
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99
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100 “The Graveyard of Lost Dreams,” a voice said
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101 behind the princess.
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102
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103 Whirling around, her heart pounding in her chest
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104 like a runaway train, Kairi got a look at who had snuck up on her.
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105 She was a little smaller than Kairi herself, with short, messy dark
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106 hair. She wore a long sleeved white blouse and shorts. Her dark eyes
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107 seemed incredibly sad, deep, dark pools that went on for an eternity.
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108 Kairi had to pull her gaze away from those eyes, afraid she'd never
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109 see the bottom of them. “Who are you?” she asked, taking a step back.
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110 She nearly started again when she stepped into another statue. There
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111 was something... strange about this girl.
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112
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113 “I'm... the caretaker of
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114 this place,” the girl stated simply. “And you... You are the dreamer
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115 of dreams.” Stepping past Kairi, she set some pink carnations down in
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116 front of the mermaid statue.
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117
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118 “Do you all speak in riddles?” Kairi asked, exasperated. Straight
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119 out, simple truth seemed to be something that no one other than
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120 herself enjoyed. Everything had to lead in circles. It was like she
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121 was lost in Wonderland.
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122
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123 “Sometimes it's the best way to explain
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124 things. Especially if you aren't ready to understand them.” The girl
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125 turned back to Kairi, stars twinkling around her. A star landed in
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126 her hand. Without seeming to notice, the dark haired girl closed her
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127 hand, snuffing out the star.
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128
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129 “What's your name?” Maybe she had heard
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130 of this girl before. Or she'd at least have a name to attach to her.
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131 It was better than just meeting some creepy girl in the middle of a
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132 graveyard. Harle, Aya, and Maya all had names even if they wouldn't
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133 tell her much else.
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134
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135 “I have no name. I've gone by many, but none are
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136 my real name. I simply... am.” Walking past, she continued on a
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137 meandering path through the graveyard. “But what use are names? Yours
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138 isn't even your own.”
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139
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140 “What's that supposed to mean?” Kairi hurried to
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141 follow the girl. She was the only one in this place and whoever she
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142 was, she seemed to have some answers. Even if she wasn't exactly
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143 being forthcoming.
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144
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145 “You know exactly what I mean. Kairi is the name you took on in the
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146 Destiny Islands. It is neither the name of the Princess of Hollow
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147 Bastion or a lonely girl who is bleeding to death in her room even as
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148 we speak. Your name is Hikari,” the girl explained in her soft, calm
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149 voice. “But if you can pretend Kairi is someone else, you can be
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150 neither of those things, right?”
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151
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152 Kairi shook her head quickly, denying
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153 the girl's words. “No, it's not like that. I am Kairi. Those other
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154 lives...” Trailing off, she shook her head again. “I don't know. But
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155 I am Kairi.”
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156
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157 “Then if we're pretending right now, you can call me
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158 Sophie.” The dark haired girl bowed her head. “It's nice to escape
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159 who you are. To lose yourself in someone else. To be everything
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160 you're not. Pretty, popular, strongwilled. It's so much better than
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161 reality sometimes.”
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162
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163 For some reason, Sophie's words cut to the bone. “I am this way,”
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164 she said angrily. Fear and uncertainty began to surface inside of
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165 herself. 'Are you? Or is this all to get away from everything? To be
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166 all you wanted to be?' Her heart pounded again and she suddenly felt
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167 sick. No. This wasn't all make believe. She wasn't some lonely little
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168 pathetic girl who'd slit her wrists rather than deal with her life.
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169 That was the lie. She wasn't the lie. That life was. It had to be the
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170 lie.
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171
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172 Ignoring Kairi's inner turmoil, Sophie continued, trimming some
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173 of the flowers near one of the statues. “This place is a graveyard
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174 for all the dreams that die. When someone gives up on their dreams,
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175 when someone forgets them, when life crushes them, they die. This is
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176 where their broken, battered bodies go. Where other dreams can mourn
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177 their passing. But it's a lonely place. Few come out here, to this
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178 place at the edge of eternity. To this place at the edge of sanity.
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179 I'm sure the souls of all these dreams are happy that you would come
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180 to visit them.”
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181
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182 “But... Why? Why have this? Dreams don't die... They
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183 just...”
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184
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185 “Go far away? That is dying. The ceasing of life. Dreams are
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186 born inside of people. And they die inside of people. They need a
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187 graveyard just as much as people do. You're thinking too much of what
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188 is 'real'. Reality is nothing more than a filter. Dreams live just as
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189 surely as you do. Or did. You all go back to the same place when you
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190 die,” Sophie explained. “Riku is already being called there, but I
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191 can't reach him yet. He wants to see you very badly. But you're
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192 dying, too. Right now. Time flows differently here. It's been so long
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193 here, but it's only been a short time since you cut yourself over
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194 there. But that's simply your body. If you decide to remain a dream,
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195 it won't matter if it dies. But once it does, you can never go back.
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196 The clock is ticking, Hikari. You're running out of time.”
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197
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198 Speechless, Kairi could only watch the pale girl. Running out of
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199 time? Before, it had just been wherever her journey took her on her
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200 search for Riku and Sora. But now... she was... dying? No, that
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201 life... But even though she wanted to say it was a lie, she couldn't.
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202 Not completely. She couldn't entirely deny it anymore. A droplet
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203 spattered against her cheek, running down her chin. Still warm, but
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204 wet now. Not like the stars that had been falling. Wiping at it,
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205 Kairi brought her fingers up to her eyes. Crimson streaked them. It
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206 was raining blood. Searching around frantically, Kairi could see the
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207 bloody raindrops falling about the statues in the graveyard. She
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208 looked back at the girl, realization dawning on her. “You... You're
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209 Death, aren't you?”
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210
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211 A small, sad smile crossed Sophie's lips. “People
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212 seem to think Death is a monster, something hideous that needs to be
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213 feared. But I'm only doing my job.” She turned towards Kairi. “I know
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214 what it's like to forget who you are, to leave your life behind, to
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215 hate what you are. But no matter how far you run, you can never
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216 escape it. It always manages to find you.”
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217
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218 “But...” Kairi began, tears
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219 forming in her eyes. “I don't want to give this up... I don't want it
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220 to go away.. I don't want this dream to die...” For a moment, just a
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221 moment, she could accept that she was Hikari. For a moment, she could
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222 almost remember everything.
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223
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224 “Then you have to fight for it. You have
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225 to deny the other world. If you give it up, then you'll still be here
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226 when your body dies over there. I won't be taking you with it.”
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227 Sophie stopped in front of several tombstones, the warm rain
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228 bloodying her. “But 'reality' won't give up so easily. Sometimes
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229 sacrifices are needed.”
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230
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231 Rubbing at her eyes to force the tears away,
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232 Kairi glanced at the statues next to Sophie. “Riku!” She recognized
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233 the statue instantly. Hurrying to it, she read the inscription aloud.
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234 "Plunging into darkness, Riku wanted to save his dreamer. Lost in the
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235 night, but never swallowed by it, his spirit shines on.” The tears
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236 that threatened returned, dripping down her already bloody cheeks.
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237 “Riku...” He was dead now. His soul was still waiting for her. “Oh,
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238 Riku... I'm so sorry...” He only wanted to save her. And he had made
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239 the ultimate sacrifice for it.
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240
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241 “I won't come for him until you've
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242 unlocked the Door and seen him. He's determined to stay until then.
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243 I'll give you that long. Then I'll take him to the other side,”
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244 Sophie promised.
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245
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246 Kairi wanted to argue, wanted to beg the incarnation
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247 of death to let Riku stay, but she knew it would be pointless. The
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248 dark haired girl wasn't one to break the rules. “It's my fault. He
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249 never would have lost his body to Ansem if it weren't for me.”
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250
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251 “He
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252 only wanted to save you. If you live, isn't that what he wanted?
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253 Doesn't that make his sacrifice worthwhile?” Sophie asked, tilting
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254 her head to the side.
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255
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256 “But...” It was true, wasn't it? “But I don't
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257 want to lose him. I need him.” And that was just as true.
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258
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259 Her gaze slowly turned to the statue next to Riku's. “Tidus?! But...
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260 No! What's going on?” The princess whirled to the dark haired girl.
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261 “What's happening to the Destiny Islands? He shouldn't be here. He
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262 should be fine. I saw him before I left. This... this is all
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263 wrong!”
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264
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265 “The Destiny Islands are dying. They're the center of your
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266 dreams. And now that it's falling apart, it's caving in on itself.
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267 The rest of them will die as well if you can't save it. The dream is
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268 becoming a nightmare. The dream will soon be here in the Graveyard of
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269 Lost Dreams if things don't change.”
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270
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271 “It's... dying?” It felt like the ground was crumbling beneath
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272 Kairi's feet. The stakes were much higher than she'd realized. She
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273 had to save Riku, had to find Sora, had to save the Destiny Islands
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274 all before she died. They were dying just like she was. It was all
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275 too much. “What about Hollow Bastion? If I'm it's princess, why isn't
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276 it dying just like the Destiny Islands?”
|
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rlm@0
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277
|
|
rlm@0
|
278 “Because you aren't the only
|
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rlm@0
|
279 dreamer. There is another dreamer on Hollow Bastion who is managing
|
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rlm@0
|
280 to keep it from falling apart. Maybe she can help you.” Sophie turned
|
|
rlm@0
|
281 to leave. “But remember, time is short. You brought the Heartless
|
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rlm@0
|
282 here by leaving the door to the real world open. Only you can close
|
|
rlm@0
|
283 that door.”
|
|
rlm@0
|
284
|
|
rlm@0
|
285 “Sophie... Thank you.”
|
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rlm@0
|
286
|
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rlm@0
|
287 Sophie didn't turn around. “I'll be seeing
|
|
rlm@0
|
288 you soon.” And with that, the graveyard shattered into a million
|
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rlm@0
|
289 pieces.
|
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rlm@0
|
290
|
|
rlm@0
|
291
|
|
rlm@0
|
292 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
rlm@0
|
293
|
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rlm@0
|
294 Yuna sat in silence as the sounds of
|
|
rlm@0
|
295 music and dancing and subdued laughter permeated the air around her.
|
|
rlm@0
|
296 It was the night of the Destiny Islands Festival, but she really
|
|
rlm@0
|
297 couldn't work up the will to celebrate. And she was angry with
|
|
rlm@0
|
298 herself over that. It didn't matter if she felt like celebrating or
|
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rlm@0
|
299 not. The pain inside of her was inconsequential. Everyone was scared.
|
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rlm@0
|
300 They needed hope and she certainly wasn't helping anyone by sitting
|
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rlm@0
|
301 near a tree with her legs to her chest trying not to cry. But she
|
|
rlm@0
|
302 couldn't help it. She felt on the verge of falling apart. The
|
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rlm@0
|
303 islands, their home, it was all falling apart in front of them. Some
|
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rlm@0
|
304 hideous nightmare had come to life. The same creature that had killed
|
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rlm@0
|
305 her father. And now it was coming for her, for the Destiny Islands.
|
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rlm@0
|
306
|
|
rlm@0
|
307 Everyone was still in shock over the loss of Tidus. Wakka had asked
|
|
rlm@0
|
308 if they'd all disappear at this rate. Riku, Sora, Kairi, and now
|
|
rlm@0
|
309 Tidus. No one knew what would happen next. Their world was falling
|
|
rlm@0
|
310 apart at the seams. Selphie had insisted they still have the
|
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rlm@0
|
311 festival, despite everything else. She had said this was exactly what
|
|
rlm@0
|
312 they needed the festival for, as something to keep them going,
|
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rlm@0
|
313 something to push back the madness that seemed to surround them.
|
|
rlm@0
|
314 There had been some argument about it, but it had finally been agreed
|
|
rlm@0
|
315 to have the festival anyway. After all, if they didn't have it
|
|
rlm@0
|
316 because of the way things had been lately, they would be doing
|
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rlm@0
|
317 exactly what the adults had done.
|
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rlm@0
|
318
|
|
rlm@0
|
319 And so here they were at last, dancing and singing and playing under
|
|
rlm@0
|
320 the starlight. But no matter how much Yuna told herself to go and
|
|
rlm@0
|
321 join them, for their sake if not her own, the green and blue eyed
|
|
rlm@0
|
322 girl couldn't get herself to move. Fear and indecision and pain froze
|
|
rlm@0
|
323 her in place, leaving her a lightly shivering statue.
|
|
rlm@0
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324
|
|
rlm@0
|
325 “It's a
|
|
rlm@0
|
326 beautiful night tonight, isn't it?” A voice asked from behind Yuna.
|
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rlm@0
|
327
|
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rlm@0
|
328 At
|
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rlm@0
|
329 first, the brunette tried to collect herself, to push back the tears
|
|
rlm@0
|
330 she knew would be present in her voice, but her surprise quickly took
|
|
rlm@0
|
331 that away. “Elder Seymour?” Her shock broke the spell on her
|
|
rlm@0
|
332 paralysis, allowing her to turn and see the older man. None of the
|
|
rlm@0
|
333 adults had known of their plans to have their own festival. So what
|
|
rlm@0
|
334 was one of the most respected elders doing here? For a moment, she
|
|
rlm@0
|
335 thought he was here to end the festival, to send them all home, but
|
|
rlm@0
|
336 his eyes told another story. His being here had nothing to do with
|
|
rlm@0
|
337 the festival. He was here to see her. Swallowing involuntarily, Yuna
|
|
rlm@0
|
338 continued to stare heavenward. Did he know? When explaining the
|
|
rlm@0
|
339 monster and what happened to Tidus, she hadn't told the council of
|
|
rlm@0
|
340 elders that she'd seen the creature before in her dreams, that she
|
|
rlm@0
|
341 knew it's name was Sin. But had Elder Seymour somehow seen through
|
|
rlm@0
|
342 her?
|
|
rlm@0
|
343
|
|
rlm@0
|
344 “So strange that we would have such a beautiful night on the
|
|
rlm@0
|
345 edge of such tragedy. Life certainly can be ironic, can't it, Yuna?
|
|
rlm@0
|
346 Almost as if that beauty grows out of tragedy. It's all a cycle. Life
|
|
rlm@0
|
347 leads to death. To escape death, new life is born only to be snuffed
|
|
rlm@0
|
348 out. And why? Why this needless cycle? Why this continuous march
|
|
rlm@0
|
349 towards death? We live simply so that we can die? Nothing ever
|
|
rlm@0
|
350 escapes death. No matter how much we struggle. It continues
|
|
rlm@0
|
351 menacingly forward.” Kneeling down, he glanced over at Yuna, to see
|
|
rlm@0
|
352 if she understood. The younger girl looked down, her pretty face
|
|
rlm@0
|
353 hidden by her hair. ”I know you feel bad about Tidus. But there was
|
|
rlm@0
|
354 nothing you can do. His suffering is over now. We who remain here are
|
|
rlm@0
|
355 the ones who are afraid, who are hurting and suffering. He is free.”
|
|
rlm@0
|
356 Tilting her chin up to see him, he smiled softly. “He is truly free
|
|
rlm@0
|
357 in a way you or I can never know in this world. Not afraid. Not
|
|
rlm@0
|
358 always worried. Never having to cry.”
|
|
rlm@0
|
359
|
|
rlm@0
|
360 Looking back into Seymour's
|
|
rlm@0
|
361 eyes, Yuna found herself nodding. His words spun around in her head,
|
|
rlm@0
|
362 leaving her dizzy. Free.... How she longed to be free. Not bound in
|
|
rlm@0
|
363 chains by her own fears and indecision. Not having to hide her
|
|
rlm@0
|
364 feelings for the sake of others all the time. Not scared of whatever
|
|
rlm@0
|
365 was inside of her. Not paralyzed by indecision over everything. All
|
|
rlm@0
|
366 of these things that plagued her life. The depression that would set
|
|
rlm@0
|
367 in even as she would smile till it ached so no one around her would
|
|
rlm@0
|
368 know. But... Would that freedom only come in death?
|
|
rlm@0
|
369
|
|
rlm@0
|
370 As if reading her
|
|
rlm@0
|
371 mind, Seymour continued. “Life is tragedy, Yuna. Pain hunts the
|
|
rlm@0
|
372 living. Sorrow fills our souls. And yet we continue to fight death,
|
|
rlm@0
|
373 even though we cannot possibly win. We only prolong suffering. This
|
|
rlm@0
|
374 world, this universe is awash with the tears of all who live. And all
|
|
rlm@0
|
375 we can do is sit and wait for the cycle to begin again, just as it
|
|
rlm@0
|
376 always has.”
|
|
rlm@0
|
377
|
|
rlm@0
|
378 “But... That's not fair...” Yuna shook her head, hugging
|
|
rlm@0
|
379 her legs tighter. “Why does everyone have to keep hurting? Why can't
|
|
rlm@0
|
380 things ever be happy?”
|
|
rlm@0
|
381
|
|
rlm@0
|
382 “Because the painfilled cycle of life and
|
|
rlm@0
|
383 death, their endless battle, continues on. As long as it does, we
|
|
rlm@0
|
384 will keep struggling through the loss and fear and suffering.”
|
|
rlm@0
|
385 Pausing for a moment, he stared deep into Yuna's mixed eyes. “But if
|
|
rlm@0
|
386 we could find a way to break this cycle, to destroy the wheel we keep
|
|
rlm@0
|
387 spinning on...”
|
|
rlm@0
|
388
|
|
rlm@0
|
389 Yuna swallowed nervously. She wanted to look away, but
|
|
rlm@0
|
390 his gaze was magnetic, keeping her from turning. His gaze seemed to
|
|
rlm@0
|
391 go to the deepest depths of her soul, uncovering all the things she
|
|
rlm@0
|
392 hid from the world. It was as if he was speaking directly to her. But
|
|
rlm@0
|
393 how could she possibly destroy the cycle of life and death? That was
|
|
rlm@0
|
394 far beyond a simple girl like herself. But if she could... wouldn't
|
|
rlm@0
|
395 it be worth it? To be free? To end all pain and suffering?
|
|
rlm@0
|
396
|
|
rlm@0
|
397 “Death is a salvation to those who die, but a curse to those who
|
|
rlm@0
|
398 continue living on. We continue on this path, waiting to be swallowed
|
|
rlm@0
|
399 up even as we see those we love fall around us. You're right, Yuna.
|
|
rlm@0
|
400 It's hardly fair. This cycle is one of madness and despair.” Leaning
|
|
rlm@0
|
401 forward, he placed a hand on Yuna's shoulder. “But I think we can
|
|
rlm@0
|
402 break the cycle. I think we can finally end this once and for all.
|
|
rlm@0
|
403 Even when you save someone, they will eventually suffer more pain and
|
|
rlm@0
|
404 death. But we could save everyone.”
|
|
rlm@0
|
405
|
|
rlm@0
|
406 Her heart pounding, Yuna felt anxious and hopeful. She certainly
|
|
rlm@0
|
407 couldn't break the cycle of life and death, but maybe Elder Seymour
|
|
rlm@0
|
408 could. And if he needed her help, wouldn't it be worth it? “How?” she
|
|
rlm@0
|
409 breathed.
|
|
rlm@0
|
410
|
|
rlm@0
|
411 Smiling, Seymour shook his head. “Not now, Yuna. But soon. Very,
|
|
rlm@0
|
412 very soon. Now you enjoy the festival. I'll talk to you soon. Enjoy
|
|
rlm@0
|
413 yourself. Soon there will be nothing more to haunt your soul.” With
|
|
rlm@0
|
414 that, the elder stood up and walked back through the shadows. None of
|
|
rlm@0
|
415 the others seemed to have noticed he was here. He must have docked
|
|
rlm@0
|
416 his small boat elsewhere.
|
|
rlm@0
|
417
|
|
rlm@0
|
418 Shaking her head, thoughts spun chaotically through Yuna's head. If
|
|
rlm@0
|
419 Seymour was right, then no one else would have to get hurt. They
|
|
rlm@0
|
420 wouldn't be stuck watching their friends and loved ones disappear.
|
|
rlm@0
|
421 They could save everyone from the pain inherent in life. She could be
|
|
rlm@0
|
422 free. Finally free.
|
|
rlm@0
|
423
|
|
rlm@0
|
424 “Yunie, are you okay?” Rikku asked. The catgirl
|
|
rlm@0
|
425 looked down at her worriedly. Yuna hadn't said much to her since...
|
|
rlm@0
|
426 that thing had shown up. When the brunette would say something, she
|
|
rlm@0
|
427 would smile and pretend everything was fine. Which obviously it
|
|
rlm@0
|
428 wasn't. It scared Rikku to see Yuna like this. She wanted to help
|
|
rlm@0
|
429 her, to protect her, but she didn't know how. To her surprise, Yuna
|
|
rlm@0
|
430 looked up at her and smiled. Not the brittle, fake smile she had been
|
|
rlm@0
|
431 using, but a bright, hopeful smile. Rikku was even more surprised by
|
|
rlm@0
|
432 how good it made her feel to see Yuna smile like that. Her tail
|
|
rlm@0
|
433 swished at the sight.
|
|
rlm@0
|
434
|
|
rlm@0
|
435 “I'm fine. I think... I think things are going to be just fine.” And
|
|
rlm@0
|
436 Yuna felt it, too. If Elder Seymour was right, she would do anything
|
|
rlm@0
|
437 to break the cycle. Then it wouldn't matter that Tidus died or that
|
|
rlm@0
|
438 Kairi and the others were missing or that the island was falling
|
|
rlm@0
|
439 apart. They'd all be far away from this.
|
|
rlm@0
|
440
|
|
rlm@0
|
441 Seeing Yuna hopeful again had a warming affect on Rikku's soul. The
|
|
rlm@0
|
442 catgirl felt invigorated, as if she were feeding off of the
|
|
rlm@0
|
443 brightness she saw in Yuna. It took her a moment before she realized
|
|
rlm@0
|
444 she was purring. Finally managing to stop herself, she saw Yuna
|
|
rlm@0
|
445 giggle softly into her hand. Still energized by Yuna's uplifted
|
|
rlm@0
|
446 spirits, Rikku reached down, taking Yuna's hand into her paw. “Yunie,
|
|
rlm@0
|
447 do you wanna dance?” she asked eagerly.
|
|
rlm@0
|
448
|
|
rlm@0
|
449 Despite the sudden flush that
|
|
rlm@0
|
450 arose on her cheeks, Yuna nodded. “I'd love to, Rikku.” She felt the
|
|
rlm@0
|
451 catgirl pull her to her feel. Almost stumbling forward into Rikku's
|
|
rlm@0
|
452 arms, she felt the other girl's paws on her hips. Blushing, she
|
|
rlm@0
|
453 looked up into swirly green eyes. All of her worries and fears had
|
|
rlm@0
|
454 evaporated for the time being. Right now, she was just under a
|
|
rlm@0
|
455 starlit sky with a girl that brought up lots of warm, confusing
|
|
rlm@0
|
456 feelings inside her heart. She'd usually be a bit more embarrassed
|
|
rlm@0
|
457 about dancing with someone, but right now she felt free. She knew
|
|
rlm@0
|
458 that she liked her, didn't she? So why not dance with her? The
|
|
rlm@0
|
459 knowledge that everything could be saved soon made her feel like
|
|
rlm@0
|
460 dancing anyway.
|
|
rlm@0
|
461
|
|
rlm@0
|
462 Sweatdropping, Rikku's whiskers twitched. “I don't exactly know
|
|
rlm@0
|
463 where to start. Most of the dancing I've done have been in plays with
|
|
rlm@0
|
464 the rest of the Radical Dreamers. It's usually pretty planned out.”
|
|
rlm@0
|
465
|
|
rlm@0
|
466 Laughing softly, Yuna position her arms on Rikku. Slowly, she began
|
|
rlm@0
|
467 to move witht he other girl. “It's not about planning. It's just
|
|
rlm@0
|
468 about moving. Dancing is fluid. If you plan too much, then it loses
|
|
rlm@0
|
469 that. It needs to be alive.”
|
|
rlm@0
|
470
|
|
rlm@0
|
471 The two danced to the rhythm of the music, sandaled feet and paws
|
|
rlm@0
|
472 swishing over the sand as the water lapped the beach near them. They
|
|
rlm@0
|
473 moved past other couples dancing on the beach, all to the music
|
|
rlm@0
|
474 Irvine and several others had been forced to play courtesy of
|
|
rlm@0
|
475 Selphie. The beach was beautiful, decorated with everything they
|
|
rlm@0
|
476 could find for the festival. Magical lights hung in the trees,
|
|
rlm@0
|
477 blazing with beautiful colors.
|
|
rlm@0
|
478
|
|
rlm@0
|
479 Yuna smiled as she saw Wakka over near the pier, eating as much as
|
|
rlm@0
|
480 he could from the food they had all brought over. Lulu was stamping
|
|
rlm@0
|
481 her foot impatiently, waiting for him to dance with her. Yes, things
|
|
rlm@0
|
482 were going to be just fine. She wouldn't let down the people she
|
|
rlm@0
|
483 cared for. Her eyes went back to Rikku's beautiful green swirls. They
|
|
rlm@0
|
484 were like a whirlpool, pulling her in. Absolutely beautiful.
|
|
rlm@0
|
485
|
|
rlm@0
|
486 The slightly shorter catgirl caught on quickly, dancing wonderfully
|
|
rlm@0
|
487 against her, the two shifting about underneath the multicolored
|
|
rlm@0
|
488 lights. 'She must be a very good actress to catch onto things so
|
|
rlm@0
|
489 quickly,' Yuna thought absently. Dancing was something that she
|
|
rlm@0
|
490 always loved to do, now more than ever. It was the one thing that
|
|
rlm@0
|
491 truly made her feel free. Losing herself to motion and emotion.
|
|
rlm@0
|
492 Letting everything simply flow around her. And here, dancing with
|
|
rlm@0
|
493 Rikku, she could feel it even stronger. It felt like everything was
|
|
rlm@0
|
494 coursing around them, as if they were in the middle of a stream. The
|
|
rlm@0
|
495 whole feeling was much stronger than when she danced alone. She could
|
|
rlm@0
|
496 imagine that she could see the glow of their hearts and feelings
|
|
rlm@0
|
497 mingling as they danced. It was perfect. Resting her head on Rikku's
|
|
rlm@0
|
498 furry shoulder, she moved gently with the pretty catgirl.
|
|
rlm@0
|
499
|
|
rlm@0
|
500 Holding onto Yuna, Rikku hoped Yuna couldn't feel her thundering
|
|
rlm@0
|
501 heartbeat. But then, did it matter? She held the brunette closer,
|
|
rlm@0
|
502 unable to keep from purring. Her paws rubbed up and down Yuna's back.
|
|
rlm@0
|
503 What would she do when Yuffie finally found her? She missed her big
|
|
rlm@0
|
504 sister, but she didn't want to leave Yuna. Being part of the Radical
|
|
rlm@0
|
505 Dreamers had meant everything to her, but now it didn't mean nearly
|
|
rlm@0
|
506 as much as being near the brunette. Maybe she'd finally found her
|
|
rlm@0
|
507 treasure, the one she'd been looking for. Let the others find riches
|
|
rlm@0
|
508 and fame. The girl in her arms was all she wanted.
|
|
rlm@0
|
509
|
|
rlm@0
|
510 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
rlm@0
|
511
|
|
rlm@0
|
512 Sitting on the beach itself, another couple listened to the music
|
|
rlm@0
|
513 surrounding them. It was a bit more distant from where they sat, but
|
|
rlm@0
|
514 it suited them just fine. Sandals lay piled near them, their feet
|
|
rlm@0
|
515 dipping in the water as small waves brushed up the beach. Selphie's
|
|
rlm@0
|
516 head rested on Quistis's lap, looking out at the starlit ocean.
|
|
rlm@0
|
517 Quistis's lithe fingers moved through her brunette hair, taking the
|
|
rlm@0
|
518 time to play across her ears or her lips now and then.
|
|
rlm@0
|
519
|
|
rlm@0
|
520 “You finally got to have your festival. It took a lot of work, but
|
|
rlm@0
|
521 you did it. Good job, Selphie.” Quistis brushed Selphie's hair past
|
|
rlm@0
|
522 her ears, gazing down at the other girl. “Did it work out the way you
|
|
rlm@0
|
523 wanted it to?”
|
|
rlm@0
|
524
|
|
rlm@0
|
525 Pausing for a moment, Selphie thought. A laughter from
|
|
rlm@0
|
526 further up on the beach settled it for her. Nodding, the girl in the
|
|
rlm@0
|
527 yellow dress smiled faintly. “Yep. People are relaxing and having
|
|
rlm@0
|
528 fun. That's what I wanted.”
|
|
rlm@0
|
529
|
|
rlm@0
|
530 Quistis nodded, her blonde hair shifting
|
|
rlm@0
|
531 in the wind. “Then I'm glad it worked out. This might be our last
|
|
rlm@0
|
532 chance to relax, so it's good that you could help give that to
|
|
rlm@0
|
533 everyone.”
|
|
rlm@0
|
534
|
|
rlm@0
|
535 Silence surrounded the two for several long moments. The music
|
|
rlm@0
|
536 seemed so dreadfully far away. Selphie shifted, looking up at
|
|
rlm@0
|
537 Quistis. “What happens next, Quisty?” she asked, her voice tinged
|
|
rlm@0
|
538 with concern. She had been so busy planning on this that she had
|
|
rlm@0
|
539 phased everything else out. Now that it was over, there was only the
|
|
rlm@0
|
540 reality of their world crumbling out from under them.
|
|
rlm@0
|
541
|
|
rlm@0
|
542 The blonde didn't answer at first, simply looking down at Selphie.
|
|
rlm@0
|
543 Her fingers traced along Selphie's cheeks softly. “We do what we can.
|
|
rlm@0
|
544 We try to find out what's doing this to the islands. And we fight to
|
|
rlm@0
|
545 protect them. This is our home. We can't let it die.”
|
|
rlm@0
|
546
|
|
rlm@0
|
547 Selphie bit her
|
|
rlm@0
|
548 lip, still looking up. Her big, green eyes were slightly wet, tear
|
|
rlm@0
|
549 stained. “And what if we can't find out? What if we can't stop
|
|
rlm@0
|
550 it?”
|
|
rlm@0
|
551
|
|
rlm@0
|
552 Smiling softly, and feeling just as worried, Quistis wiped the
|
|
rlm@0
|
553 tears away from Selphie's eyes. “Whatever happens, Selphie, I'll be
|
|
rlm@0
|
554 here with you. We'll see it through together, no matter what.”
|
|
rlm@0
|
555
|
|
rlm@0
|
556 Leaning
|
|
rlm@0
|
557 up, Selphie kissed the other girl. Slowly, at first, but with more
|
|
rlm@0
|
558 and more of her strength. She needed to know she was there, needed to
|
|
rlm@0
|
559 be with her. And this might be their last chance before everything
|
|
rlm@0
|
560 fell apart.
|
|
rlm@0
|
561
|
|
rlm@0
|
562 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
rlm@0
|
563
|
|
rlm@0
|
564 The huge, almost labrynthine library did little to ease Yuffie's
|
|
rlm@0
|
565 thoughts. She was home at last, back on Hollow Bastion. The book in
|
|
rlm@0
|
566 front her remained open on the same page it had since she'd opened it
|
|
rlm@0
|
567 over an hour ago. Her thoughts were too fragmented to try to figure
|
|
rlm@0
|
568 anything out right now. Besides, Aerith was better at that sort of
|
|
rlm@0
|
569 thing than she was anyway. She'd welcomed the distraction when Leon
|
|
rlm@0
|
570 had entered the library to see her.
|
|
rlm@0
|
571
|
|
rlm@0
|
572 “So she's really the Keyblade Mistress?” Leon was saying.
|
|
rlm@0
|
573
|
|
rlm@0
|
574 Nodding,
|
|
rlm@0
|
575 Yuffie finally shut the book. “Seems like it. Which doesn't make any
|
|
rlm@0
|
576 sense. She was one of the seven princesses. Maybe it has something to
|
|
rlm@0
|
577 do with her being Ansem's daughter. Besides, the other two Keyblade
|
|
rlm@0
|
578 Masters are currently out of the picture, so I guess she was
|
|
rlm@0
|
579 necessary. Though her Keyblade seems a little different. Maybe her
|
|
rlm@0
|
580 mission is a little different from theirs.”
|
|
rlm@0
|
581
|
|
rlm@0
|
582 “Could be.” Leon crossed his arms, thinking. “Sora closed the
|
|
rlm@0
|
583 Doorway to the Darkness. So what we're dealing with is only the
|
|
rlm@0
|
584 remaining Heartless and their current growing numbers. If she's
|
|
rlm@0
|
585 supposed to open the Doorway to the Light, then maybe that will
|
|
rlm@0
|
586 finish this. Sora started it and she's supposed to finish it. With
|
|
rlm@0
|
587 the Doorway to the Darkness closed and the Doorway to the Light
|
|
rlm@0
|
588 opened, that should be the end of the Heartless.”
|
|
rlm@0
|
589
|
|
rlm@0
|
590 “But for some reason, the Doorway to the Light is locked by a
|
|
rlm@0
|
591 different Keyholes. So we need to unlock the last of those before we
|
|
rlm@0
|
592 can open the Doorway. Assuming we can find it.” Yuffie shook her
|
|
rlm@0
|
593 head. “Which we will. She's got me working with her, so she's already
|
|
rlm@0
|
594 better off than that Sora guy was. Hey, Leo...” She paused,
|
|
rlm@0
|
595 correcting herself. “ Squall, where is Aerith? I thought she'd be
|
|
rlm@0
|
596 here? Or have you both been running around with your lovers while
|
|
rlm@0
|
597 I've been getting all the work done.”
|
|
rlm@0
|
598
|
|
rlm@0
|
599 Squall's eyes narrowed.
|
|
rlm@0
|
600 “Aerith's checking on Princess Hikari. She's still unconscious. You
|
|
rlm@0
|
601 and the other girl woke up a lot quicker than she has. Whatever's
|
|
rlm@0
|
602 been happening has put a big strain on the princess.” In response to
|
|
rlm@0
|
603 the rest of Yuffie's question, he added, “We've been trying to
|
|
rlm@0
|
604 protect Hollow Bastion and to figure out exactly what's going on.
|
|
rlm@0
|
605 Running around wouldn't do us any good if we don't know what we're
|
|
rlm@0
|
606 doing. And I don't want to leave Hollow Bastion to get consumed by
|
|
rlm@0
|
607 Darkness again.”
|
|
rlm@0
|
608
|
|
rlm@0
|
609 “It won't,” Yuffie assured him. “We were caught by surprise last
|
|
rlm@0
|
610 time. No one knew what King Ansem was up to. This time we can go out
|
|
rlm@0
|
611 and stop it before it gets that far.” She grinned. “The Heartless
|
|
rlm@0
|
612 aren't going to stop the multiverse's best ninja. Just leave it to
|
|
rlm@0
|
613 me.”
|
|
rlm@0
|
614
|
|
rlm@0
|
615 Squall didn't look impressed. The ninja girl simply stuck her
|
|
rlm@0
|
616 tongue out at him.
|
|
rlm@0
|
617
|
|
rlm@0
|
618 “Yuffie?” Yuffie froze, turning to spot the speaker.
|
|
rlm@0
|
619 Relm stood there, blond hair peaking out from beneath her bandana.
|
|
rlm@0
|
620 She looked back to Squall for an opportunity to escape, but the older
|
|
rlm@0
|
621 man was already leaving to let them be alone. 'Crap!' The ninja
|
|
rlm@0
|
622 didn't know what to do about Relm since their last meeting. She
|
|
rlm@0
|
623 hadn't been able to deal with her jealousy at all. Avoiding Relm had
|
|
rlm@0
|
624 been her plan of action, but being in the same room made that
|
|
rlm@0
|
625 incredibly difficult to pull off.
|
|
rlm@0
|
626
|
|
rlm@0
|
627 Relm pulled up a chair next to her.
|
|
rlm@0
|
628 The painter stared at Yuffie as the ninja flipped through pages in
|
|
rlm@0
|
629 the overly large book in front of her. It was almost comical how
|
|
rlm@0
|
630 nervous she was. “Thanks for saving me, Yuffie.”
|
|
rlm@0
|
631
|
|
rlm@0
|
632 Yuffie closed her
|
|
rlm@0
|
633 eyes, letting out a breath. She relaxed a bit at those words. If that
|
|
rlm@0
|
634 was all, then maybe it wasn't so bad. They could ingore the rest of
|
|
rlm@0
|
635 it. Like whatever feelings were pumping through her. Yeah, that
|
|
rlm@0
|
636 worked for her. She smiled her best cocky grin and turned to the
|
|
rlm@0
|
637 other girl. “Hey, don't worry about it. If you died, I wouldn't have
|
|
rlm@0
|
638 anyone to draw my exploits.” The way Relm was looking at her gave a
|
|
rlm@0
|
639 serious blow to her nonchalance. Relm stared into her eyes knowingly.
|
|
rlm@0
|
640 It was starting to freak her out.
|
|
rlm@0
|
641
|
|
rlm@0
|
642 “I made her up, Yuffie. She was just
|
|
rlm@0
|
643 a painting I made. I wanted to make you jealous. I wanted to know if
|
|
rlm@0
|
644 you felt anything for me. If you liked me the way I like you. The way
|
|
rlm@0
|
645 I love you.” Relm tried to keep eye contact as Yuffie shifted around
|
|
rlm@0
|
646 uncomfortable. Relm took her hand, kissing at her fingers. “I love
|
|
rlm@0
|
647 you, Yuffie. I saw it. That's why you came back, isn't it?”
|
|
rlm@0
|
648
|
|
rlm@0
|
649 Yuffie
|
|
rlm@0
|
650 tried weakly to pull her hand away. Part of her reminded herself that
|
|
rlm@0
|
651 if she was such a good ninja, she could get her hand back in an
|
|
rlm@0
|
652 instant. So the only conclusion was that she didn't want it back.
|
|
rlm@0
|
653 That didn't make her feel anymore secure at the moment. “It's my
|
|
rlm@0
|
654 fault your stuck in this mess. I couldn't let him kill you,” Yuffie
|
|
rlm@0
|
655 said unconvincingly.
|
|
rlm@0
|
656
|
|
rlm@0
|
657 “Then why had you been following me to know I
|
|
rlm@0
|
658 was in there?” Relm asked, arching a thin, blonde eyebrow. Standing
|
|
rlm@0
|
659 up, she held Yuffie's hand to her heart, pressed against the black
|
|
rlm@0
|
660 cloth of her top. Her heart pounded against Yuffie's palm.
|
|
rlm@0
|
661
|
|
rlm@0
|
662 “I... I...” Words were starting to fail Yuffie. Her mind was racing
|
|
rlm@0
|
663 in two different directions at once. One for a decent explanation and
|
|
rlm@0
|
664 the other right towards Relm. She swallowed, trying to focus. Focus
|
|
rlm@0
|
665 refused to come. “I... I was worried about you. And Kairi.” She added
|
|
rlm@0
|
666 the last hastily.
|
|
rlm@0
|
667
|
|
rlm@0
|
668 Pressing Yuffie's hand closer to her breast, Relm
|
|
rlm@0
|
669 straddled Yuffie's lap, gazing directly into the ninja's eyes.
|
|
rlm@0
|
670 Yuffie's short shorts rustled against Relm's puffy pants. The younger
|
|
rlm@0
|
671 girl gazed into Yuffie's eyes, her nose brushing across the
|
|
rlm@0
|
672 brunette's. “I love you, Yuffie,” Relm whispered. Her lips brushed
|
|
rlm@0
|
673 against Yuffie's. She kissed Yuffie lightly again and again. The
|
|
rlm@0
|
674 ninja sat there tensely as she wrapped her arms around her, pulling
|
|
rlm@0
|
675 tightly against her. Licking Yuffie's lips, she felt the ninja
|
|
rlm@0
|
676 shudder in her arms deliciously. Yep, Yuffie was much, much nicer
|
|
rlm@0
|
677 when she had nowhere to turn. She suppressed the grin as she cuddled
|
|
rlm@0
|
678 closer on the chair, kissing more. Her hands ran up Yuffie's sides,
|
|
rlm@0
|
679 slipping under her short green top. Yuffie tried to sit up as Relm's
|
|
rlm@0
|
680 hands pressed against her soft skin, but the painter made it
|
|
rlm@0
|
681 impossible to get up.
|
|
rlm@0
|
682
|
|
rlm@0
|
683 Yuffie was stunned. Not entirely by Relm's behaviour, because this
|
|
rlm@0
|
684 wasn't the first time she'd done anything like that, but by her own
|
|
rlm@0
|
685 lack of response. She should have pushed her away by now. Have told
|
|
rlm@0
|
686 her to leave her alone. Have done -something-. So finally, she did do
|
|
rlm@0
|
687 something. She started kissing Relm back.
|
|
rlm@0
|
688
|
|
rlm@0
|
689 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
rlm@0
|
690
|
|
rlm@0
|
691 Kairi could vaguely feel a wet washcloth rubbing away the sweat from
|
|
rlm@0
|
692 her face. She'd been slipping fitfully. She felt so strange. Was she
|
|
rlm@0
|
693 sick? The bed shifted as someone sat next to her, brushing back her
|
|
rlm@0
|
694 hair as they used the washcloth. 'Mom?' Kairi's distorted mind called
|
|
rlm@0
|
695 out. It had to be. This was all just a nightmare. She was sick in
|
|
rlm@0
|
696 bed. Her mother had probably stayed home from work to be with her.
|
|
rlm@0
|
697 For a moment, she was homesick. She missed her mother. The only
|
|
rlm@0
|
698 person who actually cared for her. But it was okay. She was there
|
|
rlm@0
|
699 now. It was all right. Her mother would take care of her. But... It
|
|
rlm@0
|
700 didn't smell like her mother. It was still nice, comforting, but not
|
|
rlm@0
|
701 the same as her mother. She smelled like flowers. Kairi strained to
|
|
rlm@0
|
702 open her eyes, already worried about where she'd end up now.
|
|
rlm@0
|
703
|
|
rlm@0
|
704 “Please
|
|
rlm@0
|
705 don't strain too much, Princess Hikari,” a gentle voice said.
|
|
rlm@0
|
706 Accepting that Kairi wouldn't end her struggling, she helped pull the
|
|
rlm@0
|
707 princess into a half sitting position.
|
|
rlm@0
|
708
|
|
rlm@0
|
709 The world blurred and turned
|
|
rlm@0
|
710 on end in front of Kairi. She would have fallen back to the bed if
|
|
rlm@0
|
711 not for the woman's hand on her shoulder. Slowly, things began to
|
|
rlm@0
|
712 clarify. “Princess Hikari? Then...” She looked over, seeing Aerith on
|
|
rlm@0
|
713 her bedside. “This is Hollow Bastion, isn't it?” She shook her head,
|
|
rlm@0
|
714 trying to clear away the last of the dizziness. “Did I bring myself
|
|
rlm@0
|
715 here? Or did that girl send me?”
|
|
rlm@0
|
716
|
|
rlm@0
|
717 “You came here because you had to.
|
|
rlm@0
|
718 Does it matter how?” Aerith smiled, setting the washcloth to the side.
|
|
rlm@0
|
719
|
|
rlm@0
|
720 “I guess not...” Kairi ran her fingers through her slightly damp
|
|
rlm@0
|
721 bangs. She looked up at the chestnut haired woman. “Is Hollow Bastion
|
|
rlm@0
|
722 okay? Is it still holding together?”
|
|
rlm@0
|
723
|
|
rlm@0
|
724 Aerith nodded, though her smile
|
|
rlm@0
|
725 disappeared. “For now. Though if the Heartless get much stronger, I
|
|
rlm@0
|
726 don't know how long it will stay that way for any planet.”
|
|
rlm@0
|
727
|
|
rlm@0
|
728 Kairi
|
|
rlm@0
|
729 sighed, nodding. “At least it's not falling apart like the Destiny
|
|
rlm@0
|
730 Islands.” Looking up, Kairi's mind began spinning. “I have to find
|
|
rlm@0
|
731 the other...” she choked back the word 'dreamer'. She didn't want to
|
|
rlm@0
|
732 admit that any of this was simply a dream. It was too real for that.
|
|
rlm@0
|
733
|
|
rlm@0
|
734 “You won't have to look too far. I had a feeling you would want to
|
|
rlm@0
|
735 talk to me.” The older woman brushed her hair back over her
|
|
rlm@0
|
736 shoulders, smiling softly.
|
|
rlm@0
|
737
|
|
rlm@0
|
738 “You're... like me?” Kairi asked, still
|
|
rlm@0
|
739 not wanting to call it dreaming. Aerith nodded. “So I'm not the only
|
|
rlm@0
|
740 one.” This was both a relief and a curse. If she wasn't the only one,
|
|
rlm@0
|
741 at least she wasn't alone in all this. But it meant it couldn't just
|
|
rlm@0
|
742 be something crazy a few people were telling her to throw her off
|
|
rlm@0
|
743 track.
|
|
rlm@0
|
744
|
|
rlm@0
|
745 Aerith nodded. “All of the seven Princesses were. Girls from another
|
|
rlm@0
|
746 world who escaped here, forgetting the lives they once led. They were
|
|
rlm@0
|
747 all like you, Hikari. I was like you. Fantasy helped sustain us. It
|
|
rlm@0
|
748 helped us get through life. Until finally we decided our dreams were
|
|
rlm@0
|
749 more worthwhile than our lives and we joined them. The rest of us
|
|
rlm@0
|
750 turned our back on our pasts, forgetting. But you couldn't entirely
|
|
rlm@0
|
751 forget. You clung to one thing. And that left the doorway open.
|
|
rlm@0
|
752 That's how the Heartless began to appear here.”
|
|
rlm@0
|
753
|
|
rlm@0
|
754 “My mother...” Kairi
|
|
rlm@0
|
755 said softly, holding her hands to her heart. That memory that had
|
|
rlm@0
|
756 grown foggy, but never entirely forgotten. She'd held onto it even
|
|
rlm@0
|
757 when it was only a shadow. And while she held onto it, the doorway to
|
|
rlm@0
|
758 another world was left open, one she had been supposed to forget. “So
|
|
rlm@0
|
759 Aya was...”
|
|
rlm@0
|
760
|
|
rlm@0
|
761 Nodding again, Aerith watched the younger girl. “That's
|
|
rlm@0
|
762 why you're the Keyblade Mistress, Hikari. Only you can close that
|
|
rlm@0
|
763 door because it's your door that's been left open. The rest of us
|
|
rlm@0
|
764 don't remember our other lives. I don't know who I was before this,
|
|
rlm@0
|
765 why I came here. I only know that I did. And I know of the others who
|
|
rlm@0
|
766 did, too. I don't regret giving all that up. I feel like this is
|
|
rlm@0
|
767 where I belong. With my friends. With Cloud. On this world.”
|
|
rlm@0
|
768
|
|
rlm@0
|
769 Licking
|
|
rlm@0
|
770 her suddenly dry lips, Kairi nodded. “That's what I want, too. I want
|
|
rlm@0
|
771 to go back to the Destiny Islands. I want to be with Riku and Sora
|
|
rlm@0
|
772 and my friends.”
|
|
rlm@0
|
773
|
|
rlm@0
|
774 “But part of you also wants part of the other world,
|
|
rlm@0
|
775 doesn't it? You're torn. That's why that doorway is open. And only
|
|
rlm@0
|
776 you can close it. But will you step back through before you do? You
|
|
rlm@0
|
777 have to decide soon. Which side will you be on when it shuts?” Taking
|
|
rlm@0
|
778 Kairi's hand, Aerith sighed. “I'm sorry it has to be so difficult.
|
|
rlm@0
|
779 Usually it isn't a problem. You're simply here. But something's still
|
|
rlm@0
|
780 holding you back.”
|
|
rlm@0
|
781
|
|
rlm@0
|
782 “You don't remember anything? Anything at all?” Kairi looked up at
|
|
rlm@0
|
783 the taller woman. She had all sorts of snippits of her other life.
|
|
rlm@0
|
784 Mostly cold and dark, but she could also feel homesick over the warm
|
|
rlm@0
|
785 memories of her mother. And she was getting more and more memories
|
|
rlm@0
|
786 back of being the princess of Hollow Bastion. Both seemed integral.
|
|
rlm@0
|
787 Both felt like necessary parts of who she was.
|
|
rlm@0
|
788
|
|
rlm@0
|
789 Shaking her head,
|
|
rlm@0
|
790 Aerith's hair swished behind her. “I don't remember any of it. I came
|
|
rlm@0
|
791 here to be with my prince. To live the life I never could in the
|
|
rlm@0
|
792 other world. Just like you.” Smiling, she suppressed a giggle.
|
|
rlm@0
|
793 “Though it looks like you have two princes.”
|
|
rlm@0
|
794
|
|
rlm@0
|
795 Blushing, Kairi looked
|
|
rlm@0
|
796 down at the sheets in front of her. “I need to find them. I need to
|
|
rlm@0
|
797 be with them again.” Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes. “I
|
|
rlm@0
|
798 need to close that door to the other world before it's too
|
|
rlm@0
|
799 late.”
|
|
rlm@0
|
800
|
|
rlm@0
|
801 “Thank you, Hikari. I'll help however I can. All of us are
|
|
rlm@0
|
802 willing to grant our strength to make sure these worlds don't fall
|
|
rlm@0
|
803 apart,” Aerith promised.
|
|
rlm@0
|
804
|
|
rlm@0
|
805 “All of us? The other princesses?” Kairi
|
|
rlm@0
|
806 asked, curious.
|
|
rlm@0
|
807
|
|
rlm@0
|
808 “All of us. We'll try to hold everything together long
|
|
rlm@0
|
809 enough for you to close the door once and for all.”
|
|
rlm@0
|
810
|
|
rlm@0
|
811 A small smile
|
|
rlm@0
|
812 spread across Kairi's lips. “Then... Take care of Hollow Bastion for
|
|
rlm@0
|
813 me. I remember growing up here. I don't want anything bad to happen
|
|
rlm@0
|
814 to it. I'll do my best to protect all the worlds. I'll stop it. I
|
|
rlm@0
|
815 promise.”
|
|
rlm@0
|
816
|
|
rlm@0
|
817
|
