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1 Prism Hearts
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2
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3 Chapter 14
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4 Fly Me to the Moon
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5 by Amazoness Duo
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6
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7 amazonessduo@hotmail.com
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8
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9
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10
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11
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12
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13 “Is this the End of the World?” Sora asked. He stood on a small rock
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14 in the midst of a stream. The water was plummeting over a jagged edge
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15 into nothingness. And this was inside the upside down palace he had
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16 found Hikari in. It was as if this was an amalgamation of so many
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17 things, yet all of them incomplete. Everything was missing something.
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18 Everything was just a little warped, a little wrong. Like a dream
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19 that you couldn't quite tell was a dream.
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20
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21 “Hmm?” Hikari sat near the edge of the stream, her bare feet in the
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22 cool water. She looked gorgeous in the black dress she wore. She wore
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23 a collar around her throat and two black ribbons around her wrists.
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24 She smiled at Sora, kicking some water at him. “I guess you could say
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25 that. This is at the end of the universes. This is where everything
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26 ends. Where Kingdom Hearts is locked away.”
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27
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28 Sora grinned as he tried to dodge Hikari's light splashing. It was
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29 so nice to be with her again. He took another glance around. Some
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30 leaves that had been falling off the trees hung in midair, as if they
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31 had decided not to fall to the ground after all. “But this looks so
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32 different from the End of the World that Donald, Goofy and I went
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33 through before.”
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34
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35 The water splished and splashed as Hikari walked over to Sora,
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36 wrapping her arms around him from behind. Her hands rested on his
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37 heart, feeling the flutter of it against her fingertips. It was
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38 almost an ironic feeling. She smiled despite herself, resting her
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39 head against his back. His smell, his clothes rustling against her
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40 touch, his heartbeat under her palms, it was all so very real.
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41 “That's because you were at a different End of the World, Sora. You
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42 sealed away the Doorway to the Darkness. This place leads to the
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43 Doorway to the Light.”
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44
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45 Sora shook his head, his heart pounding against Hikari's hands. He
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46 tried to focus on the question to keep from getting too distracted.
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47 Kairi... He had missed her so much. He had almost felt lost before he
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48 had found her. Even in this faraway place, as long as he could be
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49 with her... Riku. No, he wasn't done yet. He had to find Riku. It
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50 wasn't complete without him. But he was halfway there now. Together,
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51 they'd find him. Focusing back on his question he tried to ignore the
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52 way her soft, smaller body felt pressed against his back. “But if
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53 both the Doorway to the Darkness and the Doorway to the Light are
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54 Kingdom Hearts, shouldn't it be the same place?”
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55
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56 Hikari giggled against his back, letting her hands wander. “Yes and
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57 no. You sure are full of questions, aren't you Sora?” Leaning up on
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58 her tiptoes, she kissed the back of his neck. She grinned as she felt
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59 him tense up, knowing he must be blushing. This was more fun than she
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60 thought. She was becoming happier and happier that she had had
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61 Sephiroth bring Sora to her. Real or not, she still loved him.
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62 Pretending that she didn't realize his embarrassment, she continued.
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63 “They're the same place, but they're also different. Do you notice
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64 how when you go someplace and come back, it's longer on the way there
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65 than the way back? It's like that. The End of the World you went to
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66 led to the Doorway to the Darkness. Which is Kingdom Hearts. This End
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67 of the World leads to the Doorway to the Light. Which is also Kingdom
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68 Hearts. Much like we all have darkness and light inside of us, so
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69 does Kindgom Hearts, the heart of everything. So it all depends on
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70 where you're going. Once you know the secrets, there's very little
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71 you can't do, Sora. Everything is as far away or as close as you want
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72 it to be.”
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73
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74 Sora shook his head trying to make sense out of too many things at
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75 once. “I don't understand.”
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76
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77 “That's exactly the problem. You're trying too hard to understand.
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78 This isn't two plus two equals four. This is two plus two equals
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79 whatever you want it to be.” Her hands rested on his shoulders. How
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80 could she explain it? A fairytale her grandmother had told her came
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81 to mind. “A long time ago, Darkness began to spread throughout the
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82 worlds. No matter what people did, they couldn't stop it until
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83 everything was consumed by shadows. But out of the darkness, their
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84 came light. The worlds were reborn from the hearts of the children.
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85 If the worlds were reborn from these special hearts, then wouldn't it
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86 be different depending on which heart? That's why each world is so
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87 different. But this place lies on the outskirts of all the worlds,
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88 where everything is and isn't. This place is a little bit of
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89 everything. Or it's just what you want it to be. Or it's just what
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90 you don't want it to be. It's at the very edge of reality, of life,
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91 of everything. That's why it's the End of the World.”
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92
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93 “I remember hearing that before. Your grandmother told it to you,
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94 right? But it was just a fairytale, wasn't it?” Sora turned to face
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95 Hikari, the petite girl looking up at him.
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96
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97 “Every fairytale has some basis in truth. But truth is subjective.
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98 It changes depending on what eyes you view it with. In one version of
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99 that story, everything was destroyed by the darkness. Then it was
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100 reborn from the hearts of some special young girls.”
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101
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102 Sora's eyes went wide as pieces began to fall into place. “The
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103 Princesses of Heart? Did they rebuild everything? Is that why all of
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104 them were needed to get to Kingdom Hearts?”
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105
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106 Hikari seemed to ignore him, continuing on. “And in another version,
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107 the lives of these specific girls were shrouded in darkness. So they
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108 escaped from the darkness and rebuilt their lives here, crafting out
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109 their own little worlds to get some light. Both versions are true in
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110 their own way. It all depends.”
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111
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112 “But how can they both be true?” Sora looked down into Hikari's
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113 lavender eyes, watching how they sparkled. Even after all he had
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114 seen, he couldn't wrap his mind around it.
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115
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116 “All of these different worlds. All of them separate, but all of
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117 them connected. Just because one is true doesn't make another false.
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118 One isn't mutually exclusive to another. Darkness and Light. Love and
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119 Hate. Even seemingly contradictory things can be so wrapped together
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120 that you can't tell the difference,” Hikari explained, gazing up at
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121 the taller boy. So cute. So loyal. Like a beloved puppy dog. Although
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122 his loyalty wasn't the same as Sephiroth's or Riku's. They would both
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123 do whatever was necessary for her. This boy followed his heart. He
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124 couldn't go against it, couldn't go to the extents that his friend
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125 would. But he was all she had right now. And she did love him, as
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126 foolish as that was. And until the end came, at least she could be
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127 with him. 'I hate you for not being real. For not existing outside of
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128 this dream. But I love you all the same.' Leaning up on her tiptoes,
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129 she kissed him. He nearly took a step off of the rock they stood on,
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130 but she clung to him with desperate fervor, with the need of someone
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131 who knew they were dying, running out of time. He slowly held onto
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132 her, kissing back. 'Love me, Sora. Please. Before I lose you.'
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133 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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134
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135
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136
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137 “Kairi,” a voice said softly.
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138
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139
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140
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141 It was warm and loving, soft and silky like flower petals on your
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142 skin. Memories that she couldn't quite recall were spun around that
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143 voice. It was comforting. Something that she could identify with
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144 hundreds of different emotions. Most of all, it made her feel safe.
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145 After all her travelling, that voice made her feel at peace. 'Mom!'
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146 Kairi's eyes shot open as the realization finally sunk in. That was
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147 the voice. She felt ashamed that she had nearly forgotten it, that
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148 she had every allowed herself to forget who it belonged to. The first
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149 thing she saw was her room. That immediately worried her. Plushies
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150 filled her bed just as before. Her heart began to race. 'Not here.
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151 Please, not here. Not this place again,' she thought desperately. A
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152 cold feeling seemed to pump through her veins as she kicked the
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153 blanket off. Why did she always have to end up in this place? It was
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154 a prison, neither here nor there. But something was different. Not
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155 wrong, but different. Her eyes finally travelled to the locked door
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156 only to find that it was no longer locked. A beautiful older woman
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157 stood in the doorway, smiling at her. “Mom!” The word sprang unbidden
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158 to her lips. It was her mother. She knew it. Springing to her feet,
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159 she dashed towards her mother and the open door. Her heart cried out
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160 as she waited for her mother to disappear just as Riku had so many
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161 times, for the door to come crashing shut. But neither happened. She
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162 found herself nestled in her mother's embrace, clinging as tightly as
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163 she could manage.
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164
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165 “It's okay, Kairi. Everything is just fine. Don't worry, honey,”
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166 Kairi's mother reassured, stroking her hair. “You must have had a
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167 nightmare. It's gone now.”
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168
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169 “Mom...” Kairi blinked tearfully as she buried her head against her
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170 mother's shoulder. Everything had been so confusing. But now she was
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171 here. With her mother. It really must've been a dream after all. She
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172 wasn't alone searching for something at the end of the universe
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173 through countless numbers of worlds. She was safe and sound at home.
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174 Home. This place that she'd been so frightened of, that had been a
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175 prison to her, now felt remarkably familiar in the way only a place
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176 you have lived your life in can be. The subtle reassurances of smells
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177 and sights and sounds all mixed with her mother's embrace all helped
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178 soothe her weary and battered soul. Her mother slowly pulled away to
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179 look into her eyes, stroking her cheek gently. She felt childish
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180 because of it but she was happy for it nonetheless. She looked into
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181 those eyes, remembering how they had seen her through so much. All
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182 those times she had come home crying. Whenever she was so very
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183 lonely. When she had hurt herself. She had always been there for her.
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184 Just like now.
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185
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186 “Are you all right, Kairi?” her mother asked gently.
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187
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188 Kairi nodded, blinking her tears away. “I'm just fine, mom. I missed
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189 you so much.” She bit her lip after the last part. What a stupid
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190 thing to say. She hadn't really been gone. But it sure felt like it.
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191 Laughing, Kairi's mother shook her head. “I missed you, too, honey.
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192 Glad to have you awake again.” She kissed her forehead before
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193 stepping back. “You should get dressed. Breakfast is almost ready.”
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194 Nodding, Kairi pulled her hands to her heart. Something jostled
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195 against her hands. “I'll be down in a few minutes.” She watched her
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196 mother head back towards the kitchen, leaving her alone in her room
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197 to try to figure things out. Her hand clasped the necklace she wore,
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198 feeling it's grooves. The Keyblade. Then... She gazed down at the
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199 tiny key in her hand. But if the Keyblade were still with her, then
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200 how could it have just been a dream? It had to have been real. A
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201 sudden terror and hope gripped her at the same time. If it was a
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202 dream, then Riku and Sora had just been in her head. All of her
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203 friends had been part of her dream. But if the Keyblade was still
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204 with her, it couldn't have been a dream.
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205
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206 She had to know. If it was a dream, then she had just lost both the
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207 boys she loved more than anything. If it wasn't, then how could she
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208 be home? Her mouth suddenly went dry as she came up with a way to
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209 find out. She licked her suddenly dry lips, staring at the open
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210 doorway for a long moment. This could plunge her back into the prison
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211 her room had so often been. But it might be her only way to find out
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212 if it was a dream or not. Part of herself begged her not to try it,
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213 to run downstairs to be with her mother again. But she couldn't. She
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214 couldn't just leave it alone, let it die. They had to be real. She'd
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215 come too far to give up on them now. Steeling herself, she closed her
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216 door. Nothing. But that didn't prove anything. That door had been
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217 locked so many times. And there was often a voice on the other side
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218 of it. That strangely familiar voice. And Riku was trapped behind it.
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219 “Riku?” she called out at last. “Riku, are you there?” Her heart
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220 thundered as she waited for his reply. 'Please. He has to be there.
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221 He has to. It can't just be a dream. I love him.' “Riku?” she begged.
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222 “What is it, Kairi?”
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223
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224 Kairi stared wide eyed at the door. Her mind couldn't comprehend it
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225 for a moment. His voice had come from behind her. She spun about to
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226 face him. And there he was, smiling the smile she'd grown to love,
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227 the salty ocean air sending his silver hair fluttering in the wind.
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228 Salty ocean air? Her shoes crunched on the sand as she stepped
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229 towards him. She was back on the beach, back on the Destiny Islands.
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230 She was home. This... This was home, too. “Riku...” She gripped his
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231 shirt, her hands nearly shaking. Real. He was real. She hugged him
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232 fiercely. “Riku! Don't you ever leave me again!” Her voice was mixed
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233 with anger and fear and joy and love. He was real. He was in her
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234 arms. She didn't care about the how and why at the moment, only on
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235 what was.
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236
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237 “Hey! What did Riku do?” Sora asked, his hands behind his head. His
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238 face was a combination of jealousy and surprise.
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239 Kairi laughed, letting one arm go to drag Sora into a big group hug.
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240 The boys didn't hug, instead both standing in her grasp. Silly boys.
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241 Riku's gloved hand rested on her back while Sora merely stood there a
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242 bit embarrassedly. “You're both here. It's been so long since we've
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243 all been together like this.”
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244
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245 Sora looked at her curiously. “What do you mean? Here on the beach?
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246 It's only been since this morning.”
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247
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248 “Speaking of that, have either of you gotten any work done on the
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249 raft or do I have to do all the work by myself?” Riku asked, raising
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250 a silver eyebrow.
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251
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252 Kairi shook her head quickly. “No! I mean... Let's not do that.
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253 Let's just stay here. The three of us. Always.”
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254
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255 This seemed to perplex Riku. “You don't want to go travelling? To
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256 see all the worlds out there? To see what lies beyond our Islands? I
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257 was sure you did, Kairi.”
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258
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259 Shaking her head, Kairi held her boys closer. “I think I've had
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260 enough travelling for a very long time.” She leaned closer, dropping
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261 her voice to a conspiratorial hush. “But I do think I could travel
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262 over to the dock before either of you can.” Giggling, she pushed away
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263 from the two boys and began running towards the dock. She could hear
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264 them both running behind her. The sound of laughter filled the
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265 crystal blue skies above.
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266 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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267
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268
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269
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270 Kairi stumbled over her mattress and nearly landed face first on the
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rlm@2
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271 floor of her bedroom. What had been sand mere moments before was now
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rlm@2
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272 carpet, the ocean now her blanket on the floor. She was back in her
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rlm@2
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273 room, she knew. But how and why? What was going on? She was used to
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rlm@2
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274 travelling back and forth, but not so suddenly.
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275
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rlm@2
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276 “Kairi, breakfast!” her mother called from downstairs.
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277
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rlm@2
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278 Walking slowly to the door, Kairi stepped over where she remembered
|
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rlm@2
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279 seeing herself bleeding to death on the floor. Though there was no
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rlm@2
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280 indication of that here, the memory was still frightening. Pausing
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281 for a moment, she looked and her wristbands, wondering if her scars
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rlm@2
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282 would still be there. Slowl reaching for one of them, she could see
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283 her hands shaking. No, there wouldn't be, she told herself. There
|
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rlm@2
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284 couldn't be. She wasn't dead, was she? Opening the door, which she
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rlm@2
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285 half expected to be locked, she headed out her door.
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286
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rlm@2
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287 “Kairi.”
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rlm@2
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288
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rlm@2
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289 Kairi nearly jumped at the voice. How did people continually sneak
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rlm@2
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290 up on her? Was her peripheral vision that bad? She looked back over
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rlm@2
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291 her shoulder from where she was halfway down the hallway. Behind her,
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rlm@2
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292 near her room, stood the blindfolded silver haired boy she had met
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rlm@2
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293 before. He had his hood up this time, but bits of silver peaked out
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rlm@2
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294 from underneath it. What was he doing here? And who was he? He
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rlm@2
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295 couldn't be Riku. Riku was trapped behind Kingdom Hearts. “Who are
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rlm@2
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296 you?”
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297
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rlm@2
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298 He didn't acknowledge what she said, 'looking' directly at her
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rlm@2
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299 despite the blindfold. “Kairi, you can't stay here. You're running
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rlm@2
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300 out of time. We're all running out of time. You're the only one who
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rlm@2
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301 can stop her.”
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rlm@2
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302
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rlm@2
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303 “I... I don't know what your talking about. Stop who? How can I stop
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rlm@2
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304 her? I just want..” Kairi shook her head. “I don't know what I want
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rlm@2
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305 anymore. I want to be with my mother. I want to be with Sora and
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rlm@2
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306 Riku. I want my friends.”
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307
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rlm@2
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308 “Kairi? Are you almost ready?” Her mother called from the kitchen.
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rlm@2
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309 “Yeah, just about,” Kairi called back. When she turned to ask the
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rlm@2
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310 boy again, he was gone. She stared for a moment longer before heading
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rlm@2
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311 to the kitchen. What had he been trying to tell her? And why did he
|
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rlm@2
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312 look so much like Riku?
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313
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rlm@2
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314 When Kairi reached the kitchen, her breakfast was already on the
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rlm@2
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315 table. “Oh, mom... It looks delicious.” She kissed her mother's
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316 cheek. The older woman beamed as she sat down. It had been so long
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rlm@2
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317 since they'd had breakfast together. Or had it? She was still under
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rlm@2
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318 the assumption that she had been on the Destiny Islands for years
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rlm@2
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319 now. But that couldn't be the case if she was here. Whatever the
|
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rlm@2
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320 case, breakfast was wonderful.
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321
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rlm@2
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322 “I was working on that Princess Mint costume for you, Kairi. I
|
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rlm@2
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323 should have it finished for you by the convention. I'm going to stop
|
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rlm@2
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324 by the store later for some gold paint so I can make you her rings,”
|
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325 her mother explained.
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326
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rlm@2
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327 “Mom... Thanks so much.” Kairi felt her throat constricting and her
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328 eyes blurring. Her mother had always supported her love of
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329 videogames. The older woman had made so many different costumes for
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rlm@2
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330 her over the years, trying so hard to get them down beautifully for
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rlm@2
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331 her only daughter. It had only been the two of them for so many
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rlm@2
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332 years. They were all the other had. Kairi's mother had driven her all
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rlm@2
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333 over to conventions, sometimes making a costume for herself so she
|
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rlm@2
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334 wouldn't 'look too much like a goofy parent'. She felt ashamed for
|
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rlm@2
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335 having torn up her mother's birthday cards after the children at
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rlm@2
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336 school had ridiculed her over it. This world could be so cruel, but
|
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rlm@2
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337 never her mother. 'I want to be here with you, mom. But I also want
|
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rlm@2
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338 to be there with Sora and Riku. I.. I can't choose. I can't pick
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rlm@2
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339 which one. I can't give you up. But I can't give them up either.' If
|
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rlm@2
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340 she was supposed to stop the Heartless by either going back through
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rlm@2
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341 the door and shutting it or staying and forgetting her mother, how
|
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rlm@2
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342 could she do either of them? But if she didn't, then the Heartless
|
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rlm@2
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343 would consume everything. But that was only if she believed there
|
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rlm@2
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344 were Heartless. And those things surely didn't exist here, where
|
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rlm@2
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345 normalicy ruled. But wasn't her depressing lonely real life where the
|
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rlm@2
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346 Heartless were born? 'Stop thinking about it,' she commanded. The
|
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rlm@2
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347 fact that she was home was what mattered.
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348
|
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rlm@2
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349 Picking up the dishes, Kairi brought them to the sink. “I'll clean
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rlm@2
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350 up breakfast.” It was the least she could do. She felt guilty that
|
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rlm@2
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351 she could have thought about killing herself. How could she?
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rlm@2
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352 Everything was fine, wasn't it? She felt a little funny as she
|
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rlm@2
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353 admitted that. But it was true, wasn't it? Gloved hands wrapped
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rlm@2
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354 around her thin waist, holding her close to a warm, well built body.
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rlm@2
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355 Her breath caught in her throat as she felt the hands move up,
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rlm@2
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356 caressing her breasts through her shirt. Riku... She didn't know how,
|
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rlm@2
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357 but she knew. Somehow, she wasn't surprised when she saw they were in
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358 the secret cave back on the Destiny Islands. She could feel his hands
|
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rlm@2
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359 mold against her skin, his fingers tracing circles around her
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360 nipples, the cloth suddenly feeling like very little protection
|
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rlm@2
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361 against anything at all.
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rlm@2
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362
|
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rlm@2
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363 “You don't have to, Kairi. I'll put them back in the picnic basket
|
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rlm@2
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364 and clean them up later. My mom knew I was having a picnic today
|
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rlm@2
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365 anyway, so she won't mind,” Riku's voice said behind her. She could
|
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rlm@2
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366 only nod, her breath still caught in her chest. “And I don't want to
|
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rlm@2
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367 let go of you just yet,” he whispered in her ear.
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368
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369 His breath was warm against her ear, sending a shiver down her
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370 spine. Though her thoughts were still a bit fuzzy as to how she had
|
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rlm@2
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371 gotten here, she didn't want it to end. She turned to face him,
|
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rlm@2
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372 looking up at the silver haired boy. “Riku... I don't want to,
|
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rlm@2
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373 either.” Her hands reached up, stroking his cheeks, her eyes gazing
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rlm@2
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374 up into his. How long had she wanted this, if only as nothing more
|
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rlm@2
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375 than a fantasy? But now... She could feel his hands slide under her
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rlm@2
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376 shirt, could feel his palms press against her breasts. Each move was
|
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rlm@2
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377 slow and deliberate, sending sparks throughout her. She looked out
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rlm@2
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378 through half lidded eyes as he bent down to nibbled on her neck. The
|
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rlm@2
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379 ground seemed to reach out for her as she found herself sitting with
|
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rlm@2
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380 Riku on the picnic blanket, moaning softly from his touch. Her hands
|
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rlm@2
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381 slid up and down his sides, carressing whatever part of him she could.
|
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rlm@2
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382
|
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rlm@2
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383 “Kairi, I love you,” Riku whispered, leaning forward and kissing her
|
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rlm@2
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384 softly. And again. And again. Kairi kissed back, yearning for his
|
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rlm@2
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385 kiss. Her tongue teased his even as he began to pull her shirt up.
|
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rlm@2
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386 They seperated as he pulled the doubled white and black sleeveless
|
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rlm@2
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387 shirts over her head. Blushing deeper, she went back to kissing him,
|
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rlm@2
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388 his hands now stroking her stomach and then her thighs. Her own hands
|
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rlm@2
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389 moved over the smooth expanse of his back, stopping down at his
|
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rlm@2
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390 behind as she pulled him closer. “Riku,” she whispered into his ear.
|
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rlm@2
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391 Nibbling on his ear, she could feel his hands beginning to pull off
|
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rlm@2
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392 her skirt and underwear. Sitting up, she helped him to get rid of it.
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rlm@2
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393 Gazing back at him, naked except for her choker, necklace, and
|
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rlm@2
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394 wristbands, she went to work getting rid of his clothes. It wasn't
|
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rlm@2
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395 fun if she was the only one naked, after all.
|
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396
|
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rlm@2
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397 Running her hands up and down his bare chest, she slowly began to
|
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rlm@2
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398 work her way down his stomach, kissing him as she went. Her hands
|
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rlm@2
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399 hesitated for a moment at the zipper of his pants. Slowly unzipping
|
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rlm@2
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400 it, he helped her pull them off, leaving him gloriously naked before
|
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rlm@2
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401 her. He was beautiful. Just as she'd always imagined him. She
|
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rlm@2
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402 couldn't believe this was happening. She had fantasized about this
|
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rlm@2
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403 before, and now she was finally with him. It was... wonderful. He
|
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rlm@2
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404 cupped her cheek, gazing into her eyes. She felt safe with him. She
|
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rlm@2
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405 knew he'd do anything for her. Taking his hand, she kissed his
|
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rlm@2
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406 fingers gently, never pulling her eyes away from him. There was
|
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rlm@2
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407 concern in his eyes, but she simply smiled and nodded. How sweet. He
|
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rlm@2
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408 didn't want to hurt her. But she wanted to be with him in this
|
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rlm@2
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409 perfectly romantic way.
|
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rlm@2
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410
|
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rlm@2
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411 Laying down on the blanket, she shifted about, gazing up at the boy
|
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rlm@2
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412 over her. Reaching out for him, she pulled him down on top of her,
|
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rlm@2
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413 feeling his body against her own. Every inch of his skin that came
|
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rlm@2
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414 into contact with hers felt so wonderful, leaving her with a thousand
|
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rlm@2
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415 different sensations. Her hands buried in his hair as he kissed her
|
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rlm@2
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416 throat, right above the choker. His hands finally rested on her hips.
|
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rlm@2
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417 The feeling of him at her entrance nearly made her hold her breath.
|
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rlm@2
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418 It felt like an eternity as she waited. This was it. She didn't
|
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rlm@2
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419 regret this at all. She loved him. She had always loved him. They
|
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rlm@2
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420 kissed as he began to ease his way into her. Her breath was quick and
|
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rlm@2
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421 rapid, her excitement mixing with her anxiety as she waited for him
|
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rlm@2
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422 to go deeper inside of her. It took a force of will to get herself
|
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rlm@2
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423 breathing anywhere near normally again.
|
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rlm@2
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424
|
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rlm@2
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425 Fingernails scratched against Riku's back as she felt him tear past
|
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rlm@2
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426 her barrier. Tears stung her eyes as she clutched his naked body
|
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rlm@2
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427 closer to her own. He froze simply holding onto her. Gradually, the
|
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rlm@2
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428 pain began to dissipate. She slowly began to move against him. He
|
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rlm@2
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429 took the hint, starting to move inside of her again. It was...
|
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rlm@2
|
430 Delicious. She loved being so close to him, feeling him with her,
|
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rlm@2
|
431 inside of her, around her. Her hands wandered everywhere they could,
|
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rlm@2
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432 wanting to feel all of him. They moved in unison, their pants and
|
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rlm@2
|
433 moans forming a soft chorus that filled the silence. Her eyes closed
|
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rlm@2
|
434 tightly, her head moving on the blanket.
|
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rlm@2
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435
|
|
rlm@2
|
436 “Kairi...” Sora's voice moaned above her.
|
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rlm@2
|
437
|
|
rlm@2
|
438 Blinking bleary eyes, Kairi strained to see in the dim cave. Had
|
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rlm@2
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439 Sora seen them? Sudden guilt blossomed inside of her. How hurt was he
|
|
rlm@2
|
440 to see this? But that wasn't it at all. She was looking up at him,
|
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rlm@2
|
441 her hands on his chest. Sora moaned as he continued to push inside of
|
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rlm@2
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442 her. “Sora?” But... Wasn't Riku? She shifted against him, her body
|
|
rlm@2
|
443 burning up. What the hell was going on? Nothing. Nothing, she told
|
|
rlm@2
|
444 herself. It was Sora. She'd been here with Sora all along. The panic
|
|
rlm@2
|
445 slowly ebbed away. Of course. She loved them both. She must have
|
|
rlm@2
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446 imagined it was Riku as well.
|
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rlm@2
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447
|
|
rlm@2
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448 Moaning softly, she let her hands carress up and down his chest and
|
|
rlm@2
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449 stomach as they moved against each other. “Sora...” she whispered,
|
|
rlm@2
|
450 closing her eyes once more as one of his hands went to her breast,
|
|
rlm@2
|
451 pinching and rubbing her nipple. Shifting against him, the blanket
|
|
rlm@2
|
452 underneath her seemed to shift as well. The ground underneath it was
|
|
rlm@2
|
453 suddenly much, much softer. His fingers continued to pinch at her
|
|
rlm@2
|
454 nipple while he began to speed up his movement inside of her.
|
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rlm@2
|
455 Shifting again, Kairi felt the ground move beneath her again.
|
|
rlm@2
|
456 Something rolled against her head. Blinking swiftly, she tried to
|
|
rlm@2
|
457 find out what it was. The sooner it was out of the way, the sooner
|
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rlm@2
|
458 she could get back to focusing on Sora.
|
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rlm@2
|
459
|
|
rlm@2
|
460 Staring at the plushie of Yuffie staring back at her, Kairi could
|
|
rlm@2
|
461 only blink dumbly. How had it gotten to her? Had it fallen from
|
|
rlm@2
|
462 somewhere. She looked up to ask Sora, but she couldn't see him. Her
|
|
rlm@2
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463 heart froze. If he wasn't there, then why could she still feel him?
|
|
rlm@2
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464 Her gaze slowly went down. Her fingers pinched and rubbed at her
|
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rlm@2
|
465 hardened nipple. Her other hand was between her legs, her fingers
|
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rlm@2
|
466 rubbing up inside of herself. Her hands stopped their motions as she
|
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rlm@2
|
467 stared in abject horror. It was her. It hadn't been Sora or Riku. It
|
|
rlm@2
|
468 had been her. The hands, everything she had felt, it had all just
|
|
rlm@2
|
469 been her. She suddenly felt sick. Pulling her hands away, she curled
|
|
rlm@2
|
470 up into a ball on her bed. It felt like she had just woken up from a
|
|
rlm@2
|
471 beautiful dream, only to have life remind her she could have none of
|
|
rlm@2
|
472 it. “No!!” she cried, digging her fingernails into her skin. “No!!!”
|
|
rlm@2
|
473 Why? What the hell was wrong with her? What was real? And what was
|
|
rlm@2
|
474 her own mind?
|
|
rlm@2
|
475 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
rlm@2
|
476
|
|
rlm@2
|
477
|
|
rlm@2
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478
|
|
rlm@2
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479 Kairi stared at the screen of her tv hours later. She had quickly
|
|
rlm@2
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480 pulled her clothes back on after finding them all in a pile on the
|
|
rlm@2
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481 clothes. Random battle music played in front of her. FF7 had been
|
|
rlm@2
|
482 playing on her screen for the past few hours now, lighting up her
|
|
rlm@2
|
483 otherwise dark room as she tried desperately to drown out her fears.
|
|
rlm@2
|
484 There was only the game in front of her. Nothing else. Only it was
|
|
rlm@2
|
485 real. This had been her only solace for so long. She would come home
|
|
rlm@2
|
486 from school and do exactly this, pretending the outside world wasn't
|
|
rlm@2
|
487 there at all. She couldn't even look at herself in the mirror. It
|
|
rlm@2
|
488 only filled her with repulsion. It wasn't that she had a problem with
|
|
rlm@2
|
489 doing things to herself. It was that she had honestly believed it was
|
|
rlm@2
|
490 Riku or Sora doing thos things to her. And the fact that it wasn't
|
|
rlm@2
|
491 scared the hell out of her. That she could have lost herself that
|
|
rlm@2
|
492 much frightened her. And so she played. And played.
|
|
rlm@2
|
493
|
|
rlm@2
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494 Reaching out, Kairi grabbed a glass, taking a sip of stale water.
|
|
rlm@2
|
495 Going downstairs could resolve that problem with a fresh glass of
|
|
rlm@2
|
496 water, but if she did that it would risk thinking again. And thinking
|
|
rlm@2
|
497 was not on her agenda at the moment. She was going to put that off as
|
|
rlm@2
|
498 long as possible. Her wary, tired eyes blinked in the dark room as
|
|
rlm@2
|
499 she read the screen again. She must have misread what Aerith had
|
|
rlm@2
|
500 said. FF7 was one of her favorite games. She knew it backwards and
|
|
rlm@2
|
501 forwards. Dialogue shouldn't be surprising her this time through. But
|
|
rlm@2
|
502 even upon closer inspection, it still felt off.
|
|
rlm@2
|
503
|
|
rlm@2
|
504 'She's lost in someone's spell, Cloud. I can't get her back on my
|
|
rlm@2
|
505 own,' Aerith said on screen.
|
|
rlm@2
|
506
|
|
rlm@2
|
507 “What?” Kairi leaned forward, staring at the screen. Clicking
|
|
rlm@2
|
508 forward, Cloud was given a choice.
|
|
rlm@2
|
509
|
|
rlm@2
|
510 'There has to be some way that we can wake her up.'
|
|
rlm@2
|
511 Or;
|
|
rlm@2
|
512
|
|
rlm@2
|
513 'It's up to her. Only she can break the spell. We can't reach her
|
|
rlm@2
|
514 there.'
|
|
rlm@2
|
515
|
|
rlm@2
|
516 Dropping the controller, the chestnut haired girl stepped away from
|
|
rlm@2
|
517 her tv. They weren't... They couldn't be... talking about her? Could
|
|
rlm@2
|
518 they? It wasn't possible. But how many other impossible things had
|
|
rlm@2
|
519 she seen? For some reason, being home made it all seem outside the
|
|
rlm@2
|
520 realm of possibility once more. Things she would've been forced to
|
|
rlm@2
|
521 accept in the other world felt so foreign here.
|
|
rlm@2
|
522
|
|
rlm@2
|
523 Throwing her door open, Kairi walked to the bathroom. She was
|
|
rlm@2
|
524 exhausted and scared. They were preying on her mind. Maybe sleep
|
|
rlm@2
|
525 would be a good idea after all. If it could hold the specters at bay,
|
|
rlm@2
|
526 then it would be worthwhile. Taking a handful of ice cold water, she
|
|
rlm@2
|
527 splashed her face, trying to force her weariness away. Her wet bangs
|
|
rlm@2
|
528 clung to her forehead as she looked back up. Her eyes shifted to
|
|
rlm@2
|
529 someone behind her. It was him. The cloaked boy again. She whirled
|
|
rlm@2
|
530 about to face him, but to her surprise, he wasn't there.
|
|
rlm@2
|
531 “Kairi,” he said from the mirror.
|
|
rlm@2
|
532
|
|
rlm@2
|
533 Turning to face him, she rested heavily against the sink. She
|
|
rlm@2
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534 suddenly felt very, very weak. It was as if the strength had been
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|
rlm@2
|
535 sapped from her body. It felt like she had lived eons and eons. It
|
|
rlm@2
|
536 all felt so hopeless. She wanted to give up.
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|
rlm@2
|
537
|
|
rlm@2
|
538 “You can't give up. The you of this world gave up. But deep in your
|
|
rlm@2
|
539 heart, I know how strong you are, Princess. You can handle this. You
|
|
rlm@2
|
540 can handle anything. You're stronger than this. You can fight through
|
|
rlm@2
|
541 her spells. You can't spend eternity trapped in this spell or you'll
|
|
rlm@2
|
542 never set Riku free. You'll never see Sora again. Or your mother.
|
|
rlm@2
|
543 You'll only see this illusions of them. They all need you, Kairi. You
|
|
rlm@2
|
544 can't let them down.” The boy pressed his hand against the glass.
|
|
rlm@2
|
545 “Only you can free yourself of this prison. Only you have the
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|
rlm@2
|
546 strength to come and set them all free.”
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|
rlm@2
|
547
|
|
rlm@2
|
548 Very slowly, Kairi nodded. “I'll fight. For them. I'll set them free.”
|
|
rlm@2
|
549
|
|
rlm@2
|
550 The boy smiled faintly. Walking to the bathroom door in the mirror,
|
|
rlm@2
|
551 he opened it. “I know you will, Kairi.” With that, he stepped out,
|
|
rlm@2
|
552 disappearing.
|
|
rlm@2
|
553
|
|
rlm@2
|
554 Clutching the Keyblade necklace in her hand, she stepped out of the
|
|
rlm@2
|
555 same door on her own side of the mirror. “So they're still out there.
|
|
rlm@2
|
556 This isn't home.” If she was going to save them, she had to escape.
|
|
rlm@2
|
557 There would be no one to come to her rescue. She could feel that
|
|
rlm@2
|
558 things were... off. It was all real, but it had the same feeling as
|
|
rlm@2
|
559 dreams and memories. Part of her still wanted to stay here. It was
|
|
rlm@2
|
560 safe, wasn't it? Images of Riku, Sora, her mother, and her friends
|
|
rlm@2
|
561 filled her mind. Tidus's name on a gravestone in the Graveyard of
|
|
rlm@2
|
562 Dreams. They needed her. She couldn't let them down.
|
|
rlm@2
|
563
|
|
rlm@2
|
564 Walking down the empty hallway, Kairi made her way to her mother's
|
|
rlm@2
|
565 room. The light was on and she could hear her mother in the other
|
|
rlm@2
|
566 room, still sewing the costume for her daughter. For a moment,
|
|
rlm@2
|
567 Kairi's will faltered. Could she deny her mother? Even if she was
|
|
rlm@2
|
568 only an illusion? She had to. If she had a real mother, then she
|
|
rlm@2
|
569 needed her elsewhere, not in this spell. Kairi stepped through the
|
|
rlm@2
|
570 door.
|
|
rlm@2
|
571
|
|
rlm@2
|
572 “Oh, Kairi, you're awake.” Looking up, the older woman smiled
|
|
rlm@2
|
573 gently. “Maybe you could try this on for me. I want to make sure it
|
|
rlm@2
|
574 will fit well.”
|
|
rlm@2
|
575
|
|
rlm@2
|
576 Taking a deep breath, Kairi closed her eyes. She wanted to speak,
|
|
rlm@2
|
577 but her throat closed off painfully. It still felt like her mother,
|
|
rlm@2
|
578 or her memories of her mother at the least.
|
|
rlm@2
|
579
|
|
rlm@2
|
580 “What's wrong?” A soft chuckle. “You don't think you're getting fat
|
|
rlm@2
|
581 do you? Not that again. You're beautiful the way you are, Kairi.”
|
|
rlm@2
|
582 That halted Kairi for a moment. 'Do I even look the same in the
|
|
rlm@2
|
583 other world? If what Sophie said was right, that I'm what I want to
|
|
rlm@2
|
584 be in this world, do I look different, too?' She pushed the thought
|
|
rlm@2
|
585 away. There would be time for thoughts like that later. Much later.
|
|
rlm@2
|
586 Right now she had to escape this dream. “You aren't my mother, are
|
|
rlm@2
|
587 you?” Looking up, her eyes locked on her mother's. The older woman
|
|
rlm@2
|
588 was still smiling.
|
|
rlm@2
|
589
|
|
rlm@2
|
590 “I can be. If you want me to. Just like Riku and Sora can be here,
|
|
rlm@2
|
591 too. With you, Kairi. Think about it. You could all go to conventions
|
|
rlm@2
|
592 together and play games and never have to worry again. Never grow
|
|
rlm@2
|
593 old. Never be teased again. I'll always love you. They'll always love
|
|
rlm@2
|
594 you. No need to bleed to death in your room. Just live. One
|
|
rlm@2
|
595 beautiful, everlasting moment,” the woman promised.
|
|
rlm@2
|
596
|
|
rlm@2
|
597 Tears dripped down Kairi's cheeks. The princess shook her head. “I
|
|
rlm@2
|
598 can't. I just can't. They're all waiting for me. I can't stay here
|
|
rlm@2
|
599 and leave them.”
|
|
rlm@2
|
600
|
|
rlm@2
|
601 The woman laughed, shaking her head. “So you can't do it now, but
|
|
rlm@2
|
602 you could do it when you were only leaving your mother? You sure are
|
|
rlm@2
|
603 altruistic when it's for the boys you lust after, aren't you? Your
|
|
rlm@2
|
604 mother, on the other hand, will just have to deal with her daughter's
|
|
rlm@2
|
605 suicide. No big deal, right?”
|
|
rlm@2
|
606
|
|
rlm@2
|
607 “No!! It wasn't like that!” Kairi shouted, her hands clenching
|
|
rlm@2
|
608 against her heart. “I wouldn't...”
|
|
rlm@2
|
609
|
|
rlm@2
|
610 “But you did! So what's the problem with doing it again? You escaped
|
|
rlm@2
|
611 the life with your mother only to find even more pain. But here,
|
|
rlm@2
|
612 there is no pain. Only everything you've wanted.” The older woman
|
|
rlm@2
|
613 smiled gently at her, standing up.
|
|
rlm@2
|
614
|
|
rlm@2
|
615 “She's right, Kairi. We'll always be here with you,” Riku stated,
|
|
rlm@2
|
616 standing to her mother's right. They were still in Kairi's mother's
|
|
rlm@2
|
617 room, but the floor was now sandy and the ocean was lapping behind
|
|
rlm@2
|
618 them.
|
|
rlm@2
|
619
|
|
rlm@2
|
620 “We'll never leave your side again,” Sora replied, to her mother's
|
|
rlm@2
|
621 left.
|
|
rlm@2
|
622
|
|
rlm@2
|
623 Kairi laughed a small, sad laugh, smiling despite herself. “Thanks,
|
|
rlm@2
|
624 guys. I love you all for that. But you've never left me.” She pressed
|
|
rlm@2
|
625 her palm against her heart. “We'll always be together because our
|
|
rlm@2
|
626 hearts are always together. No matter how far apart we are. That's
|
|
rlm@2
|
627 why I can't stay. I need to go find you both. The real you. Whatever
|
|
rlm@2
|
628 'real' is these days. But it doesn't matter. I need to see you both
|
|
rlm@2
|
629 again.” Turning to the woman who was not her mother, she shook her
|
|
rlm@2
|
630 head. “I'm sorry. I can't.”
|
|
rlm@2
|
631
|
|
rlm@2
|
632 The woman nodded, her facade disappearing. She sighed softly. “I
|
|
rlm@2
|
633 know.”
|
|
rlm@2
|
634
|
|
rlm@2
|
635 Pulling up her Keyblade, Kairi plunged it into the heart of the
|
|
rlm@2
|
636 woman, unlocking it. The illusion around her dissolved into
|
|
rlm@2
|
637 nothingness, the light carrying her away.
|
|
rlm@2
|
638 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
rlm@2
|
639
|
|
rlm@2
|
640 She was moving. At least, it felt as if she were moving. The
|
|
rlm@2
|
641 brilliant light made if difficult to see motion. The light moved
|
|
rlm@2
|
642 around her in a stream, flowing ever forward, twisting and turning.
|
|
rlm@2
|
643 Whether she even had a body in this place, she couldn't be certain.
|
|
rlm@2
|
644 Everything was light.
|
|
rlm@2
|
645
|
|
rlm@2
|
646 “You have unlocked the light in the heart of Longing,” the voice
|
|
rlm@2
|
647 that existed in this light said from all around her. Whether it was
|
|
rlm@2
|
648 part of the light or part of herself or something entirely different,
|
|
rlm@2
|
649 she didn't know.
|
|
rlm@2
|
650
|
|
rlm@2
|
651 “I wanted to use your power to bring back the one I love. I wanted
|
|
rlm@2
|
652 to live in a beautiful moment forever with him. He was one of Ansem's
|
|
rlm@2
|
653 first test subjects and I thought I could bring him back through you.
|
|
rlm@2
|
654 Time is our enemy. It robs us of those we love and forever heads
|
|
rlm@2
|
655 forward, crushing all in its path. I wanted to stop time, to live out
|
|
rlm@2
|
656 one beautiful moment forever. Now.. Now that my body and heart have
|
|
rlm@2
|
657 been separated, we'll go our different ways, I guess. But.. Now I can
|
|
rlm@2
|
658 be with him. Forever. Thank you.”
|
|
rlm@2
|
659
|
|
rlm@2
|
660 “I...” Kairi closed her eyes tightly, if she had them. She could
|
|
rlm@2
|
661 feel a tear slip out into the light. “Thank you for letting me see my
|
|
rlm@2
|
662 mother. Goodbye.” She could almost feel a gentle carress before the
|
|
rlm@2
|
663 light began to fade.
|
|
rlm@2
|
664 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
rlm@2
|
665
|
|
rlm@2
|
666
|
|
rlm@2
|
667
|
|
rlm@2
|
668 “Kairi!!” Relm hugged her as she sat up in bed. “You're okay!” She
|
|
rlm@2
|
669 smiled brightly. The artist looked as if she'd been hugely panicked.
|
|
rlm@2
|
670
|
|
rlm@2
|
671 “I told you she'd be fine,” Yuffie said nonchalantly. “A few spells
|
|
rlm@2
|
672 won't do in our princess, will they?” Grinning, the ninja placed a
|
|
rlm@2
|
673 hand on Kairi's shoulder.
|
|
rlm@2
|
674
|
|
rlm@2
|
675 “You did manage to fight off Ultimecia's spells. We were all
|
|
rlm@2
|
676 worried.” Aerith winked. “Even Yuffie.”
|
|
rlm@2
|
677
|
|
rlm@2
|
678 “Was not!” Yuffie retorted, crossing her arms.
|
|
rlm@2
|
679
|
|
rlm@2
|
680 Kairi closed her eyes, her head tilted back. She was back. There was
|
|
rlm@2
|
681 still a chance. Blinking her eyes open, she looked over at Aerith. “I
|
|
rlm@2
|
682 need to get to the Destiny Islands. I'm running out of time. They
|
|
rlm@2
|
683 need me.”
|
|
rlm@2
|
684
|
|
rlm@2
|
685 Aerith nodded. “Then we better hurry.” Standing up, the flower girl
|
|
rlm@2
|
686 led the way out of the room.
|
|
rlm@2
|
687
|
|
rlm@2
|
688 Relm slid off the bed to follow. She placed a kiss on Yuffie's cheek
|
|
rlm@2
|
689 before hurrying. “We're coming! Wait up!”
|
|
rlm@2
|
690 Kairi gave Yuffie a curious glance.
|
|
rlm@2
|
691
|
|
rlm@2
|
692 “Don't ask. Just don't ask.” Yuffie blushed faintly and helped Kairi
|
|
rlm@2
|
693 to her feet. “Let's get going. Seems like we still have a few things
|
|
rlm@2
|
694 to do before we get our nice, well deserved vacation.”
|
|
rlm@2
|
695 Kairi giggled, nodding. “A very long vacation.”
|
|
rlm@2
|
696
|
|
rlm@2
|
697 The two followed after Aerith.
|
|
rlm@2
|
698 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
rlm@2
|
699
|
|
rlm@2
|
700
|
|
rlm@2
|
701
|
|
rlm@2
|
702 At the large port behind the castle, Squall, Rinoa, and Cloud
|
|
rlm@2
|
703 waited. “She's ready!” Aerith called as she stepped up to the rest of
|
|
rlm@2
|
704 them. She smiled brightly at them before poking Cloud playfully.
|
|
rlm@2
|
705 “Cheer up. It's almost over.”
|
|
rlm@2
|
706 “Well... Yeah... But is it wise to bring the princess if we'll be
|
|
rlm@2
|
707 dealing with her former private guard? Sephiroth isn't going to leave
|
|
rlm@2
|
708 her alone,” Cloud admitted.
|
|
rlm@2
|
709 “That's why we're coming, silly. She won't be alone on this,” Aerith
|
|
rlm@2
|
710 reasoned.
|
|
rlm@2
|
711
|
|
rlm@2
|
712 The rest of the girls finally arrived behind her.
|
|
rlm@2
|
713
|
|
rlm@2
|
714 Kairi glanced around at the huge ocean open in front of them. “How
|
|
rlm@2
|
715 are we going to get to the Destiny Islands?”
|
|
rlm@2
|
716
|
|
rlm@2
|
717 “With the Invincible. It was King Ansem's personal Gummi ship. He
|
|
rlm@2
|
718 was preparing it before he left. Cid fixed it up for us.” With that,
|
|
rlm@2
|
719 a giant mechanical airship soared into view. The wind whirled about,
|
|
rlm@2
|
720 but none seemed to notice as they stared in awe.
|
|
rlm@2
|
721
|
|
rlm@2
|
722 The boarding ramp opened, settling on the side of the dock.
|
|
rlm@2
|
723 “Everyone on board!” a blonde haired woman dressed in a black
|
|
rlm@2
|
724 business suit called.
|
|
rlm@2
|
725
|
|
rlm@2
|
726 “Well, well. If it isn't the gorgeous Princess Hikari,” a spikey
|
|
rlm@2
|
727 haired brunette man said, wearing a similar buisiness suit, albeit
|
|
rlm@2
|
728 untucked.
|
|
rlm@2
|
729
|
|
rlm@2
|
730 “What are you doing here?” Cloud asked, crossing his arms.
|
|
rlm@2
|
731 “The Turks work directly for the royalty of Hollow Bastion. With
|
|
rlm@2
|
732 King Ansem gone and Princess Kairi newly returned to us, we decided
|
|
rlm@2
|
733 we'd keep her company to the End of the World and beyond. You know,
|
|
rlm@2
|
734 company policy and all that.” Reno winked, eliciting only a sigh from
|
|
rlm@2
|
735 Cloud.
|
|
rlm@2
|
736
|
|
rlm@2
|
737 Cloud nodded at last. “Is everyone ready for this? It's only going
|
|
rlm@2
|
738 to get worse from here on out. If anyone wants to stay, now's the
|
|
rlm@2
|
739 time to say it.”
|
|
rlm@2
|
740
|
|
rlm@2
|
741 Yuffie shook her head. “I lost my home once. I'm not letting them do
|
|
rlm@2
|
742 it again.”
|
|
rlm@2
|
743
|
|
rlm@2
|
744 Relm clung to Yuffie's arm, nodding assent. “And I'll go anywhere
|
|
rlm@2
|
745 with Yuffie.” Yuffie blushed darkly.
|
|
rlm@2
|
746 Aerith laughed.
|
|
rlm@2
|
747
|
|
rlm@2
|
748 Kairi shook her head. “Riku and Sora need me. The Destiny Islands
|
|
rlm@2
|
749 need me. I have to go.” She smiled, looking at those gathered around
|
|
rlm@2
|
750 her. “All of you... Thank you so much.”
|
|
rlm@2
|
751
|
|
rlm@2
|
752 “You don't think we'd give up on you now, do you Kairi? You've
|
|
rlm@2
|
753 wounded my pride.” Yuffie winked at the princess.
|
|
rlm@2
|
754 “Are ya comin' or aincha?” Cid yelled from the ramp.
|
|
rlm@2
|
755 “We're coming, Cid,” Squall said brushing his hair back from his eyes.
|
|
rlm@2
|
756 “Then let's go,” Rinoa said, smiling at the gunblade bearer.
|
|
rlm@2
|
757
|
|
rlm@2
|
758 “To the Destiny Islands,” Kairi said, gazing out to the sea. Destiny
|
|
rlm@2
|
759 waited out there. And she would be returning to it, whatever the
|
|
rlm@2
|
760 consequences. |
