annotate old/stories/prismhearts-05.txt @ 4:69f0191c9016 moonlitnights tip

added error.log and access.log
author Robert McIntyre <rlm@mit.edu>
date Tue, 22 Jun 2010 13:42:35 -0400
parents fc00894c1d4a
children
rev   line source
rlm@2 1
rlm@2 2
rlm@2 3 Author’s Notes: I’d like to thank Laine for her help in writing
rlm@2 4 this. ^-^ And I’d like to thank my brother, Cloud, for a lot of the
rlm@2 5 ideas that show up in Prism Hearts. Without his Kingdom Hearts RPG,
rlm@2 6 Kairi’s travels through Prism Hearts would be completely different.
rlm@2 7
rlm@2 8 Prism Hearts
rlm@2 9 Chapter 5
rlm@2 10 Time’s Scar
rlm@2 11 by Amazoness Duo
rlm@2 12 amazonessduo@hotmail.com
rlm@2 13
rlm@2 14
rlm@2 15 ‘What was the start of all this?
rlm@2 16 When did the cogs of Fate begin to turn?
rlm@2 17
rlm@2 18 Perhaps it is impossible to grasp that answer now,
rlm@2 19 From deep within the flow of time...
rlm@2 20
rlm@2 21 But, for a certainty, back then,
rlm@2 22 We loved so many, yet hated so much.
rlm@2 23 We hurt others and were hurt ourselves.
rlm@2 24
rlm@2 25 Yet even then, we ran like the wind,
rlm@2 26 Whilst our laughter echoed,
rlm@2 27 Under cerulean skies.’
rlm@2 28
rlm@2 29 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
rlm@2 30
rlm@2 31 Kairi struggled through a fitful sleep. Something felt terribly
rlm@2 32 wrong, but she couldn’t make out what. But that feeling that things
rlm@2 33 weren’t right pervaded her sleeping form as she tossed and turned.
rlm@2 34 She tried to push through the thick fog that clouded her mind, to
rlm@2 35 force herself to wake up. The harder she tried, the more confused she
rlm@2 36 became. She could feel herself in bed, the blankets wrapped around
rlm@2 37 her. But she could also feel herself somewhere else, waves lapping
rlm@2 38 somewhere nearby. She rolled onto her side. The bed shifted under
rlm@2 39 her. Her hands opened and closed slowly, damp sand pressing against
rlm@2 40 them. It felt like she was in two places at once. Water slowly rose
rlm@2 41 and fell against Kairi’s hand. It must be the waves she had heard.
rlm@2 42 Was she back home? But which home? The Destiny Islands or the room
rlm@2 43 she so often found herself in? Or both?
rlm@2 44
rlm@2 45 Footsteps slowly approached her, but Kairi couldn’t tell if it was
rlm@2 46 from the beach or the room. Her eyes struggled to open, but they felt
rlm@2 47 so heavy. Her whole body felt weak and exhausted. She just wanted to
rlm@2 48 sleep, even though she felt that someone was watching her.
rlm@2 49
rlm@2 50 The footsteps grew closer, finally stopping next to her. ‘Get up!’
rlm@2 51 she told herself. Now wasn’t the time to be lying there. She needed
rlm@2 52 to see whoever it was. But despite her concerns, she just couldn’t
rlm@2 53 work up the will to get up, let alone to open her eyes.
rlm@2 54
rlm@2 55 The footsteps finally stopped abruptly next to her. The person or
rlm@2 56 creature that had made them seemed to be studying her for a long
rlm@2 57 moment. She strained to get up, but the most she could manage was to
rlm@2 58 clench her fists, one in cool water and the other in bed sheets.
rlm@2 59
rlm@2 60 The person watching her tsked, looking down at her. “Zere will be
rlm@2 61 great enemity between you and ze worlds. Tis not speculation. Tis
rlm@2 62 histoire. You are ze key to opening it all up or shattering it all
rlm@2 63 completely. Which will you decide?” the voice finally said in a
rlm@2 64 feminine French accent. A soft sigh escaped the girl above Kairi
rlm@2 65 before she turned to leave. “But first you must decide where you are,
rlm@2 66 no?”
rlm@2 67
rlm@2 68 Kairi wanted to respond, to ask the person what she meant, but all
rlm@2 69 she could get out was a weak, sleepy grumble. What did she mean that
rlm@2 70 she could destroy everything? She was only one of the seven
rlm@2 71 princesses. And the doorway the princesses could open was already
rlm@2 72 sealed, so her importance was over. Now she was only a girl searching
rlm@2 73 for her friends. She tried one last time to get to her feet, pushing
rlm@2 74 off from the bed.
rlm@2 75
rlm@2 76 And she was up. She blinked wearily, a hand going to her eyes to
rlm@2 77 shield them from the sunset that greeted her. It stretched out lazily
rlm@2 78 along the horizon before her, beautiful swirls of pink and orange
rlm@2 79 marking the sky above. The sun glinted from both above and below, as
rlm@2 80 if it were in two places at once. It took her a moment to understand
rlm@2 81 why. It was reflecting off of the water she had been feeling later.
rlm@2 82 But she was not on a beach somewhere. She was in the middle of a vast
rlm@2 83 ocean, no land in sight. Her feet were resting on the water. The
rlm@2 84 water shifted under her, almost throwing her off balance. It still
rlm@2 85 felt like water, but she was somehow walking on it, the liquid
rlm@2 86 holding her up. She shot her gaze about quickly, trying to spot the
rlm@2 87 girl who had been speaking earlier, but she was all alone on the
rlm@2 88 ocean.
rlm@2 89
rlm@2 90 “Why don’t things ever make sense!?” She called out in anger and
rlm@2 91 frustration.
rlm@2 92
rlm@2 93 ‘Because it’s not real,’ a voice whispered in her ear.
rlm@2 94
rlm@2 95 Kairi jerked around, trying to spot the voice. She sighed when she
rlm@2 96 realized it was the one that always seemed to appear in her head.
rlm@2 97 “Why won’t you leave me alone? If you aren’t going to help me find
rlm@2 98 Riku and Sora then you could at least stop bothering me all the time.”
rlm@2 99
rlm@2 100 ‘Maybe you’re looking in the wrong places. I know where Riku and
rlm@2 101 Sora are,’ the voice taunted.
rlm@2 102
rlm@2 103 “Where? Where are they? I need to find them!” Kairi said
rlm@2 104 desperately. This trip had already been so long and grueling. She
rlm@2 105 longed to see her friends again, to laugh and cry with the two of
rlm@2 106 them by her side. She just wanted it to be over.
rlm@2 107
rlm@2 108 ‘Going to give up already? Riku wouldn’t give up so easily. He’d
rlm@2 109 keep going until he found you. No matter how far. And Sora never
rlm@2 110 returned to the island because he’s still looking for Riku. So they
rlm@2 111 can both come back to you on the island. Only you won’t be there.
rlm@2 112 Because you gave up in the middle of nowhe.’
rlm@2 113
rlm@2 114 “I’m not giving up! I won’t give up until I see them again! No
rlm@2 115 matter how long it takes!” Kairi cried out, her fists clenched
rlm@2 116 angrily as she scanned the horizon for any sign of the voice. “I… I
rlm@2 117 love them! Nothing will keep me away from them! No matter how many
rlm@2 118 worlds I have to travel across!”
rlm@2 119
rlm@2 120 A chuckle filled Kairi’s mind. Slow at first, but increasing in
rlm@2 121 volume. It seemed to come from deep within herself. It took Kairi by
rlm@2 122 surprise when she found herself to be chuckling as well. She stopped
rlm@2 123 immediately, disturbed by the source of that eerie feeling. ‘Very
rlm@2 124 well, Princess. Keep up your search. But remember, the door is
rlm@2 125 waiting for you as soon as you’re willing to accept reality. Come
rlm@2 126 back to me. I’m waiting.’
rlm@2 127
rlm@2 128 Trying to ignore the voice, the brunette kept travelling forward,
rlm@2 129 trying to focus on getting away, far away from the voice at the
rlm@2 130 ‘reality’ that it claimed to be from. The voice, the feelings, they
rlm@2 131 all seemed to swirl about inside of her. Like a thought she couldn’t
rlm@2 132 get rid of, neither willfully thought up or willingly kept. She
rlm@2 133 hugged herself, trying to force away the confusion. She had to
rlm@2 134 concentrate.
rlm@2 135
rlm@2 136 Onward and onward she traveled, the only sight the shifting water
rlm@2 137 beneath her feet. The sunset was slowly disappearing, the sky
rlm@2 138 becoming a deep purple. Stars began to hint at their existence in the
rlm@2 139 skies above. And still she was no closer to finding out where she was
rlm@2 140 or where she was going. Kairi sighed, collapsing. Hunched over, her
rlm@2 141 hands rested on her thighs as she tried to think. This wasn’t getting
rlm@2 142 her anywhere. There had to be some way to...
rlm@2 143
rlm@2 144 She blinked. That reflection in the water, it wasn’t her own. She
rlm@2 145 stood up again, looking down below her. The reflection in the water
rlm@2 146 was someone else as if she were standing on someone’s feet. With a
rlm@2 147 flash of recognition, her eyes went wide. “Riku!” she called out.
rlm@2 148 “Riku!!” She blinked back tears. He couldn’t hear her. “Riku!!!” He
rlm@2 149 blinked beneath her, starting to look around. It looked like he had
rlm@2 150 faintly heard something. A surge of hope welled up within Kairi, her
rlm@2 151 hands held tightly to her chest. “Riku! I’m right here!” He kept
rlm@2 152 scanning around, looking about him. “Look up! Please look up, Riku!”
rlm@2 153 she pleaded. If he saw her, then maybe they could find a way to be
rlm@2 154 together again. She wouldn’t be on this quest alone.
rlm@2 155
rlm@2 156 She needed him, needed someone to help her forget the cold reality
rlm@2 157 that kept being forced upon her. She needed to get to him. Kneeling
rlm@2 158 down, she tried to claw at the water, trying to reach him. “Riku!”
rlm@2 159 Her fingers broke through the water, hands plunging into the waves
rlm@2 160 beneath. And suddenly, so did she. As if the ground had been dropped
rlm@2 161 out from under her, the princess dropped into the depths. As water
rlm@2 162 surrounded her, she could see him up above, on the surface. But she
rlm@2 163 couldn’t swim up to him. It felt like her body was a lead weight. No
rlm@2 164 matter how hard she struggled, she kept sinking lower into inky
rlm@2 165 darkness. He grew further and further away, disappearing as the
rlm@2 166 darkness overcame her. She reached out, remembering his words from so
rlm@2 167 long ago. ‘Take my hand, Kairi. Take my hand and everything will be
rlm@2 168 all right.’ Her arm ached against the water as she struggled to reach
rlm@2 169 him, plunging ever deeper. She could see him, reaching for her. But
rlm@2 170 even that dissipated into nothingness as she sank.
rlm@2 171
rlm@2 172 And she landed heavily onto something soft. For a moment, she could
rlm@2 173 only lie there. “Riku...” she said mournfully. So close... If only
rlm@2 174 she could have reached out faster, then maybe...
rlm@2 175
rlm@2 176 “Told you that you were looking in the wrong places,” the voice
rlm@2 177 chided from the other side of the door.
rlm@2 178
rlm@2 179 Kairi sat up immediately, her eyes wide. Not here. Anywhere but
rlm@2 180 here. Sure enough, she could see her room once again, pictures of the
rlm@2 181 Destiny Islands, Riku and Sora on the walls. Figurines from a dozen
rlm@2 182 Squaresoft games littered her desk. Dolls she had made lay all over
rlm@2 183 her bed. This was the last place she wanted to be. She couldn’t deal
rlm@2 184 with it at the moment. “No...” She sighed, picking up the Riku and
rlm@2 185 Sora dolls and hugging them as tightly as she could.
rlm@2 186
rlm@2 187 “I already knew you didn’t like it here, Kairi. Why else would you
rlm@2 188 spend all of your time escaping into fantasy? Playing games and
rlm@2 189 watching fairy tales and pretending you were this pretty girl on an
rlm@2 190 island where you two best friends were boys who were in love with
rlm@2 191 you. Oh, and your whole suicide stunt. I think you’ve made it
rlm@2 192 blatantly obvious you don’t like it here, Kairi. I think everyone
rlm@2 193 knows that but you. Because you’re so obsessed with your fantasy
rlm@2 194 world that you can’t step back for a second and remember the sad
rlm@2 195 lonely girl you really are,” the voice said, sounding frustrated.
rlm@2 196
rlm@2 197 “This can’t be real,” Kairi whispered, getting off the bed. She
rlm@2 198 slowly walked to the locked door to her bedroom, squeezing the dolls
rlm@2 199 in her arms. They were the boys she loved, yet here they were only
rlm@2 200 fluff and cloth.
rlm@2 201
rlm@2 202 “It is, Kairi. The sooner you realize that, the sooner you can open
rlm@2 203 the door and step out into reality. Reality is darkness. But it’s
rlm@2 204 also Truth. So the Truth is darkness.”
rlm@2 205
rlm@2 206 Kairi shook her head, kneeling in front of the door. “No, it can’t
rlm@2 207 be like that. Even in the darkness, there will always be light.
rlm@2 208 Grandma told me that. Back.. Back at the palace. I can remember
rlm@2 209 that.” A smile of satisfaction lit up her face. She could remember
rlm@2 210 bits and pieces of her life back at the palace as a princess. That
rlm@2 211 gave her some hope. She didn’t just have memories from this place.
rlm@2 212
rlm@2 213 “That’s only because we can dream. Dreams are the light. But hopes
rlm@2 214 and dreams are lies. Only there to delude ourselves with visions of
rlm@2 215 what we wish would happen,” the voice argued.
rlm@2 216
rlm@2 217 “It’s not like that. It’s not,” Kairi replied softly, resting her
rlm@2 218 head against the door. “It can’t be. I have to find Riku and Sora. I
rlm@2 219 need to be with them again. And we’ll travel to all sorts of
rlm@2 220 beautiful places.”
rlm@2 221
rlm@2 222 “I know you’re lonely. I know you miss them,” the voice whispered,
rlm@2 223 pressing it’s own head against the door. “I just wish you could
rlm@2 224 accept things, Kairi. You’re so far away because of this. And no
rlm@2 225 matter how hard I try, I can’t get you back. Because you keep running
rlm@2 226 away. Come home, Kairi. Please,” the voice pleaded.
rlm@2 227
rlm@2 228 Fingers slid under the door, lying there. The princess slowly
rlm@2 229 reached out, taking them. They curled over her own, trying to hold
rlm@2 230 onto her. They felt warm and soft against her hand. And it felt so
rlm@2 231 nice to be near someone in this creepy room. Even if it was some
rlm@2 232 faceless person behind a door. But she felt like she could almost
rlm@2 233 remember who it was. Almost...
rlm@2 234
rlm@2 235 The hand held onto her tighter, starting to squeeze her hand
rlm@2 236 painfully as it gripped her own. Kairi felt a pit of anxiety in her
rlm@2 237 stomach. She tried to pull away, but the grip was too tight. “Hey...
rlm@2 238 Let go. That hurts.” She yanked back, but still with no results.
rlm@2 239 “Oww...” A shattering sound got her attention, her heart pounding.
rlm@2 240 Her window had burst. She could see water gushing in as if the house
rlm@2 241 were underwater. She tried harder to pull her hand away to no avail.
rlm@2 242 Water was quickly filling the room. It was already up to her thighs
rlm@2 243 and she couldn’t stand up to get away from it because of the hand.
rlm@2 244 “Let go!” she cried. She was cut short by the rising water. She was
rlm@2 245 quickly submerged in her bedroom. Books and figurines floated past
rlm@2 246 her in the churning waters. She was going to drown. That thought
rlm@2 247 horrified her. She was going to drown in that lonely, evil room.
rlm@2 248
rlm@2 249 The hand holding hers tightened further and yanked her forward. The
rlm@2 250 door was no longer there. Neither was the rest of her room. She moved
rlm@2 251 swiftly through the water, finally breaking above the surface of the
rlm@2 252 water. Her lungs burned painfully, her body weak. Her knees gave out,
rlm@2 253 her body slumping back into the water. But arms were quickly around
rlm@2 254 her, pulling her out of the water. “It will be all right, Kairi. I
rlm@2 255 have you.” She looked up weakly to see the cloaked boy she had met
rlm@2 256 some time ago. Her head collapsing against his chest, she passed out.
rlm@2 257
rlm@2 258 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
rlm@2 259
rlm@2 260 Sephiroth watched a small floating image before him. There were
rlm@2 261 several keyholes in front of a larger keyhole. One of the keyholes
rlm@2 262 had lit up. “Kefka,” the soldier murmured to himself. That was one
rlm@2 263 down. There were only so many left. It was only a matter of time.
rlm@2 264 Kefka hadn’t understood that he was serious when he had said that
rlm@2 265 Kairi was the key to all of this. She was the important thing, not
rlm@2 266 her keyblade or her friends. But now was not the time to act. All he
rlm@2 267 could do was sit and watch and wait.
rlm@2 268
rlm@2 269 “So she’s opened one of the Keyholes already? She may be more
rlm@2 270 trouble than we had thought,” a woman said, crossing her arms.
rlm@2 271
rlm@2 272 “One little girl is not going to be a problem. Kefka was a fool. As
rlm@2 273 long as she can’t get close enough to use her Keyblade, she isn’t a
rlm@2 274 problem. I’d simply wipe her out with an Eidolon, but I’ve been
rlm@2 275 forbidden from doing so,” the bishounen said, pouting.
rlm@2 276
rlm@2 277 “Destroying her would only be problematic. Why kill that which we
rlm@2 278 can use? She is the key to obtaining all of our goals, after all.
rlm@2 279 With her, we can unleash the Heartless entirely. And then we can do
rlm@2 280 what we will in our own worlds. I already have such plans for mine,”
rlm@2 281 a soft voice said, slowly smiling. “We never would have been able to
rlm@2 282 accomplish our goals before, but we have banded together to make our
rlm@2 283 dreams come true. Let’s not forget what is important. Realizing our
rlm@2 284 dreams, no matter how we must go about it.”
rlm@2 285
rlm@2 286 “Yes. Kefka forgot about that. But his dream was one of madness. He
rlm@2 287 couldn’t fight off the Princess. She was too strong for his madness
rlm@2 288 shrouded heart. Just be careful none of you make the same mistake,”
rlm@2 289 Sephiroth said. Closing his hand, he dispersed the image. “I have
rlm@2 290 work to do. I’ll leave the rest up to you for now. Don’t make the
rlm@2 291 same mistakes Kefka did. And remember, I want her alive.” Turning, he
rlm@2 292 exited the dark room.
rlm@2 293
rlm@2 294 The pretty boy grinned. “I guess that means it’s my turn. I better
rlm@2 295 hurry home to make sure everything’s going according to plan.” With
rlm@2 296 that, the white haired boy disappeared in a flash of light.
rlm@2 297
rlm@2 298 ~~~~~~~~~~~~
rlm@2 299
rlm@2 300 Kairi awake with a start, glancing around a dimly lit room. The
rlm@2 301 kitten that she had rescued was rubbing it’s head into her chin,
rlm@2 302 purring softly. She smiled softly at it, scratching its chin. It
rlm@2 303 looked up at her with its odd green eyes, questioningly. The ocean
rlm@2 304 was gently washing up on shore somewhere not far from where she was.
rlm@2 305 She sat up slowly, looking about the room. This didn’t seem familiar.
rlm@2 306 At least it wasn’t her bedroom. She sighed in relief.
rlm@2 307
rlm@2 308 “You’re up,” a voice said.
rlm@2 309
rlm@2 310 Swallowing, the princess tried to pinpoint the voice. She finally
rlm@2 311 found it on the bed rather than in her head. Another good sign. It
rlm@2 312 was the silver haired cloaked boy. He was sitting on the edge of the
rlm@2 313 bed, watching her. Well, as best as one can watch someone while
rlm@2 314 wearing a blindfold. She reached out slowly for it, but he moved
rlm@2 315 away. “Why do you wear that?” she inquired, watching him as he stood
rlm@2 316 up.
rlm@2 317
rlm@2 318 “To blind myself from the darkness. So I won’t see it anymore. I’ve
rlm@2 319 already looked too deeply into it. This way I can keep from staring
rlm@2 320 at it again. If you look too deeply into the darkness, it stares back
rlm@2 321 at you,” He explained.
rlm@2 322
rlm@2 323 Kairi nodded simply. She didn’t exactly understand, but that seemed
rlm@2 324 to be the best explanation she could get. “Who are you?” she asked at
rlm@2 325 last.
rlm@2 326
rlm@2 327 “A friend,” was his only reply.
rlm@2 328
rlm@2 329 Sighing, the brunette slowly got to her bare feet. Looking around,
rlm@2 330 she finally spotted her shoes. She stared at them for a long moment,
rlm@2 331 thinking. “You saved me. What you said about their being light even
rlm@2 332 in the darkest heart. If it weren’t for you...” She shuddered at the
rlm@2 333 thought of being possessed by the Slave Crown. What horrible things
rlm@2 334 would Kefka be making her do?
rlm@2 335
rlm@2 336 The boy said nothing for a long moment. He undid the blinds, letting
rlm@2 337 them raise up and let light into the room. It was small and messy, a
rlm@2 338 room in some small village. The ocean rolled nearby. “You’re looking
rlm@2 339 for your friends, aren’t you?”
rlm@2 340
rlm@2 341 Nodding emphatically, Kairi stood up. “With all my heart. I have to
rlm@2 342 find them. They need me. I know it.”
rlm@2 343
rlm@2 344 “One of them is searching for the other. You’ll find him by
rlm@2 345 searching for the one he is looking for. Your paths will eventually
rlm@2 346 cross if you seek the same thing,” he said, turning back to Kairi.
rlm@2 347
rlm@2 348 “Riku...” Kairi nodded. “If I look for Riku, I’ll run into Sora.”
rlm@2 349 That made sense. Then they could find Riku together. And they could
rlm@2 350 all be together again. She smiled. That sounded so perfect. She
rlm@2 351 looked down at the kitten. Having hopped off the bed, it was now
rlm@2 352 rubbing against her ankles, meowing. It almost sounded like it was
rlm@2 353 trying to say something. She reached down, picking it up. Petting the
rlm@2 354 kitten, she looked up thoughtfully at the cloaked boy. “But where do
rlm@2 355 I look for Riku?”
rlm@2 356
rlm@2 357 “You can’t reach him yet. He was locked away when Sora locked the
rlm@2 358 Doorway to the Darkness.”
rlm@2 359
rlm@2 360 Kairi’s shoulders slumped. “But.. There has to be some way to reach
rlm@2 361 him, right? He can’t be locked away forever.” Her heart skipped a
rlm@2 362 beat. All that Sora had done to save everyone couldn’t have doomed
rlm@2 363 Riku. It didn’t seem fair that Riku would have to suffer so that
rlm@2 364 everyone else would be safe. Damn it, she wanted to Riku to be there,
rlm@2 365 to smile at her. He couldn’t be lost forever.
rlm@2 366
rlm@2 367 “There is always a Doorway to the Light. That is the door he is
rlm@2 368 behind now that the darkness is banished. If you can unlock the
rlm@2 369 Doorway to the Light, you can reach him,” the boy explained.
rlm@2 370
rlm@2 371 “Great! Now where’s the Doorway to the Light? If I can find that, I
rlm@2 372 can meet up with Sora and we can open it up and see Riku again.” She
rlm@2 373 felt almost giddy again. She finally had some inkling of what was
rlm@2 374 going on, of how to find her friends. She was anxious to be underway.
rlm@2 375
rlm@2 376 “It isn’t that simple,” the silver haired boy warned. “The Doorway
rlm@2 377 to the Light has several locks on it. These locks are Keyholes that
rlm@2 378 reside within the hearts of several people. You must unlock all of
rlm@2 379 them in order to unlock the Doorway to the Light.” He watched her
rlm@2 380 disappointment for a moment before continuing. “You have already
rlm@2 381 unlocked one of the Keyholes. The Keyhole of Madness lay within
rlm@2 382 Kefka’s heart. You must unlock the rest before the Doorway to the
rlm@2 383 Light will open.”
rlm@2 384
rlm@2 385 Kairi nodded thoughtfully. It had been hard enough to unlock Kefka’s
rlm@2 386 heart. But if that was the only way to save Riku, she had to do it.
rlm@2 387 He would do no less for her. “Whatever it takes,” she said at last.
rlm@2 388
rlm@2 389 “Good. I was hoping you would say that. He needs you. You’re the
rlm@2 390 only one who can save him. Go and find the Keyholes. Unlock them.
rlm@2 391 Then you will find the Doorway. Behind it lies your friend. And the
rlm@2 392 Light. It is the only way to stop the Heartless. When the Doorway to
rlm@2 393 the Darkness was closed, they were cut off. They are limited in
rlm@2 394 numbers now. By opening up the light, you can vanquish them forever.”
rlm@2 395
rlm@2 396 “No more Heartless,” the princess repeated. ‘And no more of that
rlm@2 397 messed up reality. That’s tied into the Heartless, that voice said.
rlm@2 398 So if I can stop the Heartless, I won’t ever have to go back. We can
rlm@2 399 go back to our islands,’ she thought to herself.
rlm@2 400
rlm@2 401 “You’re the only one who can open the door, Kairi.” The boy turned
rlm@2 402 from her, heading out the door. His work here was done. For now.
rlm@2 403
rlm@2 404 Kairi could only watch him go. He seemed so familiar. But she didn’t
rlm@2 405 know what to say. “Thank you,” she said as he reached the doorway. He
rlm@2 406 paused for a moment but said nothing before disappearing through the
rlm@2 407 doorway. Kairi sighed, clutching a hand to her heart. She knew what
rlm@2 408 she had to do. Even if it did feel a little overwhelming. But she’d
rlm@2 409 already unlocked one of the Keyholes. What were a few more?
rlm@2 410
rlm@2 411 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
rlm@2 412
rlm@2 413 ‘Dear Diary,
rlm@2 414 Hi again! Well, we’re working on the Island Festival after all. The
rlm@2 415 adults cancelled it because of all the weird stuff going on lately,
rlm@2 416 so we’re gonna throw one ourselves. I’ve been so busy making
rlm@2 417 decorations for it that my hands hurt! But as long as we can have our
rlm@2 418 festival, it doesn’t matter. Besides, Quisty has been rubbing my
rlm@2 419 hands when I complain about it. *blush* So I’m happy about that. I
rlm@2 420 was complaining about it earlier while she was studying on the beach.
rlm@2 421 At least I got her out of the house, even if she insisted on bringing
rlm@2 422 her book with her. And she just nodded, looking at me with those
rlm@2 423 pretty blue eyes of hers looking at me through her cute glasses and
rlm@2 424 then she reached out and took my hands, rubbing them. And it felt a
rlm@2 425 lot better because of that. We talked a bit while she did that, even
rlm@2 426 though my mind was elsewhere. I hope it wasn’t too obvious.
rlm@2 427
rlm@2 428 That hole’s still there on the island. It’s looking bigger now. It’s
rlm@2 429 really spooky. There’s just nothing there. Wakka said someone should
rlm@2 430 take a look. Then he asked Tidus to go do it. Tidus shook his head,
rlm@2 431 saying he wasn’t gonna do it and that Wakka should because Wakka’s
rlm@2 432 older. I’m starting to wonder if Kairi fell down that hole. I sure
rlm@2 433 hope not. I’d hate to think she was swallowed up by that big scary
rlm@2 434 nothingness. It almost made me want to go in to look for her, but I
rlm@2 435 just stood closer to Quisty as we all stared at it. We finally left,
rlm@2 436 trying to think of something to play to get our minds off of it. But
rlm@2 437 I don’t think the hole’s gonna go away. And what happens if it keeps
rlm@2 438 getting bigger? We can’t ignore it forever.
rlm@2 439
rlm@2 440 But that’s what we have the festival for! To forget about things
rlm@2 441 now. We’ll deal with things later on. Right now we have that to worry
rlm@2 442 about. I’m in charge of the Destiny Island Festival Committee! It was
rlm@2 443 Quisty’s idea to give it an official sounding name. So we put it all
rlm@2 444 together and since it was my idea, I get to be in charge. We’ve been
rlm@2 445 drawing up plans of all the stuff we wanna do for it. The boys
rlm@2 446 weren’t too thrilled about the whole dance on the beach under the
rlm@2 447 stars, but I told them that we’re doing it anyway. I’m dancing with
rlm@2 448 Quisty at the festival whether they like it or not! Tidus is just too
rlm@2 449 shy to ask Yuna to dance with him. If he doesn’t ask soon, Lulu’s
rlm@2 450 going to and he’s gonna lose his chance. Seems like everyone like’s
rlm@2 451 Yuna. I can kinda understand. She’s a bit like Quisty. They’re both
rlm@2 452 really thoughtful and quiet sometimes and get depressed over little
rlm@2 453 things because they’re worried about disappointing everyone. If only
rlm@2 454 they’d realize we love them anyway! They don’t have to be perfect.
rlm@2 455 But I’d be better off telling Quisty that than my diary. I’ll
rlm@2 456 remember to do that later when she’s being quiet again.
rlm@2 457
rlm@2 458 Tidus and Wakka are putting up some decorations right now. I can
rlm@2 459 hear them hammering away. It’s hard to think. But I’m still exhausted
rlm@2 460 from running around all day collecting stuff for the decorations, so
rlm@2 461 that’s probably part of the reason. Lulu’s using her magic to light
rlm@2 462 some fires so we can see. It’s not too late, but some really dark
rlm@2 463 clouds have rolled in and it’s hard to see. Yuna’s giving moral
rlm@2 464 support and carrying some of the decorations from place to place. Now
rlm@2 465 that I think about it, I’ll probably ask her to teach me how to dance
rlm@2 466 before the festival. I know Quisty’s a great dancer because she’s a
rlm@2 467 scholar-type and she learned that sorta thing for some reason. Yuna’s
rlm@2 468 a great dancer, too. Sometimes she’ll dance out in the waves and it’s
rlm@2 469 really, really good. I wanna be good, too, when I dance with Quisty
rlm@2 470 during the festival, but I can’t ask her because then it won’t be a
rlm@2 471 special when we do. So I’ll get Yuna to teach me. I’m so excited! I
rlm@2 472 can just imagine twirling about with Quisty under the stars! If these
rlm@2 473 dark clouds ever go away. Grrr... Go away! I want my starry nights!
rlm@2 474
rlm@2 475 The seas have been getting angrier, too. It’s like they’re restless.
rlm@2 476 I was collecting shells on the beach for the decorations and the
rlm@2 477 waves just pulled back for a moment. Then this big, dark wave came
rlm@2 478 crashing into me. I was so surprised that I let go of everything I’d
rlm@2 479 collected. I tumbled around until I was completely dizzy and then the
rlm@2 480 water rolled right back out. When I finally got back to my feet, I
rlm@2 481 realized one of my sandals was missing. The wave stole it! Anyway, I
rlm@2 482 ran off after that, deciding to look a little further inland on the
rlm@2 483 island for things to make decorations. I don’t like how angry the
rlm@2 484 ocean looks. It’s not that beautiful aquamarine it used to be. It’s
rlm@2 485 all jagged and very dark. I hope it’s not a bad sign.
rlm@2 486
rlm@2 487 Oh, good! There’s Yuna. I’m gonna go ask her to teach me how to
rlm@2 488 dance. We don’t have much time until the festival, so I’m gonna try
rlm@2 489 my hardest for it! Booyaka!
rlm@2 490
rlm@2 491 Selphie Tilmitt’
rlm@2 492
rlm@2 493 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
rlm@2 494
rlm@2 495 Relm sat on the edge of the dock, idly swinging her legs above the
rlm@2 496 quiet waves that rolled up to graze the shore as Yuffie paced
rlm@2 497 restlessly out of the corner of her eye. The ninja’s light footfalls
rlm@2 498 on the worn wooden planks were steady and rhythmic, lulling her into
rlm@2 499 a sense of peace that seemed so at odds to everything that had
rlm@2 500 happened. They had appeared in Arni out of nowhere, two days ago,
rlm@2 501 lying just out of the clutching grasp of the sea. The fishermen had
rlm@2 502 taken them in, thinking them victims of a rough sea.
rlm@2 503
rlm@2 504 But how could that have been? They had been in Kefka’s prison, and
rlm@2 505 then they were here. The only way it could dubiously be explained
rlm@2 506 was Kairi’s Keyblade, but the princess was still asleep.
rlm@2 507
rlm@2 508 “When did they say she was going to wake up?” Yuffie demanded for
rlm@2 509 the umpteenth time, scowling.
rlm@2 510
rlm@2 511 “They didn’t say, but they’re pretty sure she’ll be fine.” The
rlm@2 512 artist turned slightly to watch the water rise and fall as if it were
rlm@2 513 breathing, orange-gold sunlight edging the waves. ‘I’d love to paint
rlm@2 514 this…but all my paints are back in Narshe. Assuming Narshe stills
rlm@2 515 exists.’ She closed her eyes for a moment, marking the loss that
rlm@2 516 still seemed fuzzy and undefined. Had all that really happened?
rlm@2 517 Celes…and Kefka…and Interceptor? Or was everything, even her being
rlm@2 518 here, just a dream?
rlm@2 519
rlm@2 520 With a sigh, Yuffie sat down besides her, leaning back until the
rlm@2 521 ninja lay flat against the boards. “Well, at least we’re safe for
rlm@2 522 now.”
rlm@2 523
rlm@2 524 “Are we really?” Relm asked in a soft voice, remembering that her
rlm@2 525 grandfather had presumed the same thing.
rlm@2 526
rlm@2 527 “Huh?” Yuffie raised her head, surprised at Relm’s dampened
rlm@2 528 spirits. She’d thought that the other girl would have been perky and
rlm@2 529 optimistic till the sun fell out of the sky. It just goes to show you
rlm@2 530 how different people can be from what the seem.
rlm@2 531
rlm@2 532 She reached out and patted Relm’s shoulder, a bit awkwardly, but
rlm@2 533 sincere nonetheless. “Hey, it’s ok. No one would dare to cross the
rlm@2 534 world’s greatest ninja, after all! So you’re safe here with me.”
rlm@2 535 She grinned her trademark grin, hoping to rouse a bit of cheer.
rlm@2 536
rlm@2 537 Flushing, Relm smiled a little. “Thanks, Yuffie.” Lying back on the
rlm@2 538 planks, she rested her head on Yuffie’s bare stomach, curled beneath
rlm@2 539 the large sun in the sky above. She closed her eyes but they
rlm@2 540 fluttered open instantly, visions of Celes and Interceptor and the
rlm@2 541 burning buildings of Narshe invading her thoughts. Better to watch
rlm@2 542 the sea, she decided. With Yuffie. Yes, she could believe that things
rlm@2 543 would be all right as long as she had this ninja girl to protect her.
rlm@2 544 She scooted closer. Yuffie smelled so nice and felt so warm. She took
rlm@2 545 solace in those little things. They calmed her, soothing her spirits.
rlm@2 546 Yes, she’d be fine. ‘I’ll be all right, Interceptor. You just rest,
rlm@2 547 my friend. I know I’ll be safe. Yuffie can protect me for now.’
rlm@2 548
rlm@2 549 Yuffie lay there awkwardly, staring up at the brilliant blue sky.
rlm@2 550 She could feel Relm’s eyelashes tickling her stomach as they blinked.
rlm@2 551 This wasn’t quite the reaction she’d been expecting when she’d
rlm@2 552 attempted to raise the artist’s spirits. The back of the blonde
rlm@2 553 girl’s bandana swished in the wind, moving across her ribs. But then,
rlm@2 554 what could she do? Push her away? The girl had just lost her
rlm@2 555 surrogate family and her best friend. Even if it was just a dog. So
rlm@2 556 it made sense that she was feeling a bit clingy. It wasn’t like it
rlm@2 557 was that hard to suffer through. Though part of her wanted to explain
rlm@2 558 that she wasn’t something to cling onto. She was a ninja and a thief,
rlm@2 559 not something cute and cuddly to grapple onto. But she decided to let
rlm@2 560 it pass this once. The younger girl needed some comforting and it
rlm@2 561 looked like she’d have to try her best. Hesitantly, Yuffie reached
rlm@2 562 down, placing a hand on Relm’s head. ‘Now what?’ she thought.
rlm@2 563 Sighing, she let her hand drop. Maybe she wasn’t the best for this
rlm@2 564 anyway. After all, she’d spent her whole life looking out for
rlm@2 565 herself. She wasn’t used to trying to perk someone else up.
rlm@2 566
rlm@2 567 Relm looked up when she felt Yuffie’s hand pull away. Giggling
rlm@2 568 softly, she reached up, pulling her bandana away. Medium length
rlm@2 569 blonde hair fell about Yuffie’s stomach. Relm rested her head back on
rlm@2 570 the ninja’s stomach, looking up the small slope of Yuffie’s chest to
rlm@2 571 the short haired ninja, waiting.
rlm@2 572
rlm@2 573 Yuffie smiled nervously at the artist, looking at those deeply
rlm@2 574 intent blue eyes. It seemed fairly obvious why she had gotten rid of
rlm@2 575 the bandana. ‘I’m not good at this stuff! I’m not used to dealing
rlm@2 576 with kids! Well, except my little sister, but she’s not around right
rlm@2 577 now.’ Reaching down, Yuffie’s fingers brushed through Relm’s soft,
rlm@2 578 blonde hair. The artist smiled happily, still looking up at her.
rlm@2 579 Yuffie relaxed a bit as she kept stroking the younger girl’s hair.
rlm@2 580 ‘At least she seems to be feeling a little better. So I guess it’s
rlm@2 581 worth it. But she better not be expecting this all the time.’ And it
rlm@2 582 really wasn’t so bad, feeling the silken hair under her fingers, the
rlm@2 583 other girl's warm breath against her stomach. There was something odd
rlm@2 584 in those eyes, though. And Yuffie wasn’t a stranger to weird eyes.
rlm@2 585 Her little sister had strange, spiral eyes. And Cloud had shining
rlm@2 586 green eyes. But there was something more subtle about these. They
rlm@2 587 were normal eyes, she decided at last. It was the look she was
rlm@2 588 getting that was strange. So direct and intense and... something. She
rlm@2 589 felt a little embarrassed having that warm gaze directed at her.
rlm@2 590 ‘Great. She’s probably gonna think of me as a mother figure or
rlm@2 591 something. And I am not a mother figure.’
rlm@2 592
rlm@2 593 Relm, on the other hand, was thinking anything but motherly thoughts
rlm@2 594 about Yuffie. “Yuffie? Do you have a boyfriend?” she asked at last.
rlm@2 595 It seemed quiet, the sound of seagulls and the waves all a part of
rlm@2 596 the background.
rlm@2 597
rlm@2 598 Shaking her head, Yuffie looked back up at the clouds thoughtfully.
rlm@2 599 “No, I’m too busy. Not that I really want one anyway. I see all these
rlm@2 600 couples around me like Cloud and Aerith, Rinoa and Squall, and I just
rlm@2 601 can’t see myself like that. Nothing against Aerith or Rinoa. I just
rlm@2 602 can’t see myself like that with some boyfriend.”
rlm@2 603
rlm@2 604 Relm smiled, pleased with Yuffie’s response. “Good.”
rlm@2 605
rlm@2 606 “Good? Why good?” Yuffie asked, blinking, looking back down at the
rlm@2 607 artist. That was an odd line of questioning. And she didn’t see why
rlm@2 608 that would be a good answer anyway. She just didn’t care about
rlm@2 609 finding a boyfriend right now. There were too many other things to
rlm@2 610 worry about. It wasn’t anywhere on her list of priorities.
rlm@2 611
rlm@2 612 “No reason,” Relm said, smiling secretively, tracing images on
rlm@2 613 Yuffie’s stomach with her finger. The warm skin felt like a wonderful
rlm@2 614 background for her. She could imagine her brushes running over it,
rlm@2 615 drawing the images in bright colors on Yuffie’s skin. “You should
rlm@2 616 really let me paint you sometime,” she said absentmindedly.
rlm@2 617
rlm@2 618 “I’m not really sure I’d be a good model for a portrait,” Yuffie
rlm@2 619 replied, sweatdropping.
rlm@2 620
rlm@2 621 Relm giggled. “I was thinking about something else, but a portrait
rlm@2 622 would be nice, too. And you’d be a great model. Ninjas can be patient
rlm@2 623 and sit and wait for hours to ambush someone. So just use that deep
rlm@2 624 well of patience and it’ll be done quickly.”
rlm@2 625
rlm@2 626 Yuffie frowned. She was a great ninja, after all. She couldn’t argue
rlm@2 627 with that. She sighed in defeat. “Yeah, I guess you can. Sometime.
rlm@2 628 Maybe.” She could imagine Aerith having a picture painted of her.
rlm@2 629 That girl could be patient. But she just couldn’t see herself sitting
rlm@2 630 there, being sketched. But if it made the girl feel better, then she
rlm@2 631 guessed she could suffer through it. And it might make for a good
rlm@2 632 picture. Relm was obviously very good with art. It might be
rlm@2 633 interesting, she thought grudgingly.
rlm@2 634
rlm@2 635 “Great!” Relm squealed happily. It was nice to have other things to
rlm@2 636 think about. And right now she was happy just to be thinking about
rlm@2 637 Yuffie. And feeling her so close. She shifted a bit, resting her head
rlm@2 638 now on Yuffie’s chest. The ninja almost sat up, but Relm didn’t move.
rlm@2 639 Yuffie sighed and stayed where she was. The artist could feel the
rlm@2 640 small green top under her cheek, and the soft skin underneath. And
rlm@2 641 beneath all that, the gentle thump of Yuffie’s heart. It was the
rlm@2 642 heart of her princess, the ninja she had long awaited. She smiled at
rlm@2 643 the thought. “It must have been Fate,” she said softly.
rlm@2 644
rlm@2 645 “What must have been Fate?” Yuffie asked, watching the quirky
rlm@2 646 artist. She sure was acting strangely. But then, all artists were a
rlm@2 647 little strange, weren’t they? At least, Zidane had said so. But who
rlm@2 648 was he to talk? Yuffie tried to look up again, but her eyes kept
rlm@2 649 being drawn back to the head on her chest, to Relm’s bright blue
rlm@2 650 eyes. Her keen intuition was telling her to be on guard, but logic
rlm@2 651 told her there was nothing to fear from the younger girl. But still,
rlm@2 652 she couldn’t quell her growing unease.
rlm@2 653
rlm@2 654 “Meeting you. Finding myself lost somewhere far away with you. The
rlm@2 655 two of us sitting under the endless sky right now. It must have been
rlm@2 656 Fate. I don’t think this is all an accident. We were destined to
rlm@2 657 meet. I was destined to rescue you from a frosty death. We were
rlm@2 658 destined to travel together. Destined to fall madly and passionately
rlm@2 659 in love,” Relm said, her eyes sparkling. Yes, it was all Fate, a
rlm@2 660 guiding hand that had led her to this beautiful moment. Her budding
rlm@2 661 romance with her very own ninja. Just like her mother.
rlm@2 662
rlm@2 663 “Destined to.. What?!” Yuffie blinked, her mind whirling at the
rlm@2 664 artists words. That had certainly not been what she had been
rlm@2 665 expecting. Possibly a surrogate mother figure, but a lover? Where was
rlm@2 666 Relm coming up with all of this stuff? She tried to get up, but Relm
rlm@2 667 pinned her. She was stronger than the artist, but Relm had caught her
rlm@2 668 by surprise and Yuffie’s head was still spinning. The blonde had
rlm@2 669 straddled her, looking down into her eyes. Yuffie could easily push
rlm@2 670 the girl off, but she found herself paralyzed underneath the blonde
rlm@2 671 artist.
rlm@2 672
rlm@2 673 “Destined to fall in love and spend forever together. Don’t you
rlm@2 674 believe in Fate?” Relm asked curiously, looking down at the older
rlm@2 675 ninja girl. “I guess I’ll just have to prove it to you.” She
rlm@2 676 whispered. Leaning down, she could see Yuffie’s wild eyes as she got
rlm@2 677 closer. Her own heart pounded feverishly, a delicious thrill cycling
rlm@2 678 through her blood. Had this been what it was like for her mother
rlm@2 679 while falling in love with her father? It was definitely dizzying.
rlm@2 680
rlm@2 681 Yuffie felt Relm’s lips press against her own, soft delicate petals
rlm@2 682 that seemed to melt against her own, flowing into them. She could
rlm@2 683 only sit there, aghast at what was happening. This little artist girl
rlm@2 684 had just professed her love for her. And here they were on some other
rlm@2 685 planet. And she was pinned underneath her, being kissed. Not just
rlm@2 686 some stage kiss, but a true, warm kiss. ‘Stop her!’ part of Yuffie
rlm@2 687 cried out. ‘She can’t do that to you!’ But Yuffie’s body refused to
rlm@2 688 cooperate. She could only lie there, subject to Relm’s will. That
rlm@2 689 thought sent a shudder through Yuffie. No one could control her but
rlm@2 690 herself. So she needed to get up and prove it. But Relm kept kissing
rlm@2 691 her. And for some reason, Yuffie couldn’t get herself to push the
rlm@2 692 young artist away. Her hands had reached Relm’s stomach, but she
rlm@2 693 couldn’t call upon the strength to force her off.
rlm@2 694
rlm@2 695 “Now what the bloody ‘ell is this?” a bemused voice asked.
rlm@2 696
rlm@2 697 Yuffie shoved the artist off, standing up and whirling about. She
rlm@2 698 winced as she heard the splash behind her. Relm was not going to be
rlm@2 699 happy about that. Wait. Why did she care if Relm liked it or not?
rlm@2 700 Relm deserved to get dunked for trying to kiss her. Well, not exactly
rlm@2 701 trying. Damn technicalities. Yuffie tried to cover her embarrassment
rlm@2 702 with anger, glaring at the intruder. “Kid?! What are you doing here?”
rlm@2 703
rlm@2 704 The blonde thief laughed, her hands on her hips. “Didn’t know ya had
rlm@2 705 it in ya, Yuffie.” She winked, sending an angry flush across Yuffie’s
rlm@2 706 cheeks. “And here I always thought you’d be the one on top.”
rlm@2 707
rlm@2 708 Relm yanked herself back up onto the dock, soaking wet and
rlm@2 709 grumbling. “What was that for?! You could’ve asked me to stop!” She
rlm@2 710 hugged herself, shivering in the light breeze. Her hair hung wetly
rlm@2 711 across her face. She tried to blow some wet hair from in front of
rlm@2 712 her, but it stubbornly refused to move.
rlm@2 713
rlm@2 714 “Wouldja have stopped?” Kid asked, still grinning. She had been glad
rlm@2 715 to see her fellow Radical Dreamer, but she found the situation she
rlm@2 716 found Yuffie in the be endlessly amusing.
rlm@2 717
rlm@2 718 Relm crossed her arms, frowning. “No. But she could’ve tried, at
rlm@2 719 least, before throwing me into the water.”
rlm@2 720
rlm@2 721 “I didn’t through you, I just... Wait,” Yuffie shook her head,
rlm@2 722 trying to clear her thoughts. “Like this is my fault. You were the
rlm@2 723 one who started... Just don’t do that!”
rlm@2 724
rlm@2 725 “I can’t make any promises,” Relm said stubbornly.
rlm@2 726
rlm@2 727 “Kid! There you are!” A voice said behind them.
rlm@2 728
rlm@2 729 Kid had a caught look on her face, but it melted away as she turned
rlm@2 730 around, masking it. “And if it isn’t the light o’ my life right now!
rlm@2 731 How ya doin’ Leena?”
rlm@2 732
rlm@2 733 “I thought you were supposed to be getting my Komodo scale necklace
rlm@2 734 right now. If you’re still around here, there might not be any when
rlm@2 735 you get there. And then I’ll be the only girl in the village without
rlm@2 736 one. You don’t want that to happen, do you?” Leena asked. She seemed
rlm@2 737 to be taking this incredibly seriously. And why wouldn’t she? It was
rlm@2 738 a big deal in a world filled with fishing and the everyday facets of
rlm@2 739 life. This was something important, a gift that all boyfriends got
rlm@2 740 their loving girlfriends. And Kid was her boyfriend. Or something
rlm@2 741 like that. So Kid was going to get her one. Whether she liked it or
rlm@2 742 not.
rlm@2 743
rlm@2 744 “Just about on my way, darling,” Kid said, trying to appease the
rlm@2 745 redhead. “Just getting some help from a friend of mine. Isn’t that
rlm@2 746 right, Yuffie?”
rlm@2 747
rlm@2 748 “Who’s the one on top with you two?” Yuffie asked dryly, raising an
rlm@2 749 eyebrow.
rlm@2 750
rlm@2 751 Kid gave her a dirty look before grinning back at Leena. “Well, off
rlm@2 752 we go. We’ll be back with your necklace before you know it, love.”
rlm@2 753 She kissed Leena’s cheek as she walked by, dragging Yuffie behind her.
rlm@2 754
rlm@2 755 Leena sighed reluctantly. “All right. I’ll be waiting, Kid. Come
rlm@2 756 back, soon! I’ll be done babysitting by then!” She waved at the
rlm@2 757 departing thieves.
rlm@2 758
rlm@2 759 “Wait! I’m coming, too!” Relm said angrily. She wasn’t about to let
rlm@2 760 Yuffie leave her behind. She had to teach the ninja a thing or two
rlm@2 761 about Fate. Yuffie was hers, most definitely. She just didn’t know it
rlm@2 762 yet.
rlm@2 763