rlm@0: Prism Hearts
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Chapter 14
rlm@0: Fly Me to the Moon
rlm@0: by Amazoness Duo
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: amazonessduo@hotmail.com
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Is this the End of the World?” Sora asked. He stood on a small rock
rlm@0: in the midst of a stream. The water was plummeting over a jagged edge
rlm@0: into nothingness. And this was inside the upside down palace he had
rlm@0: found Hikari in. It was as if this was an amalgamation of so many
rlm@0: things, yet all of them incomplete. Everything was missing something.
rlm@0: Everything was just a little warped, a little wrong. Like a dream
rlm@0: that you couldn't quite tell was a dream.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Hmm?” Hikari sat near the edge of the stream, her bare feet in the
rlm@0: cool water. She looked gorgeous in the black dress she wore. She wore
rlm@0: a collar around her throat and two black ribbons around her wrists.
rlm@0: She smiled at Sora, kicking some water at him. “I guess you could say
rlm@0: that. This is at the end of the universes. This is where everything
rlm@0: ends. Where Kingdom Hearts is locked away.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sora grinned as he tried to dodge Hikari's light splashing. It was
rlm@0: so nice to be with her again. He took another glance around. Some
rlm@0: leaves that had been falling off the trees hung in midair, as if they
rlm@0: had decided not to fall to the ground after all. “But this looks so
rlm@0: different from the End of the World that Donald, Goofy and I went
rlm@0: through before.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The water splished and splashed as Hikari walked over to Sora,
rlm@0: wrapping her arms around him from behind. Her hands rested on his
rlm@0: heart, feeling the flutter of it against her fingertips. It was
rlm@0: almost an ironic feeling. She smiled despite herself, resting her
rlm@0: head against his back. His smell, his clothes rustling against her
rlm@0: touch, his heartbeat under her palms, it was all so very real.
rlm@0: “That's because you were at a different End of the World, Sora. You
rlm@0: sealed away the Doorway to the Darkness. This place leads to the
rlm@0: Doorway to the Light.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sora shook his head, his heart pounding against Hikari's hands. He
rlm@0: tried to focus on the question to keep from getting too distracted.
rlm@0: Kairi... He had missed her so much. He had almost felt lost before he
rlm@0: had found her. Even in this faraway place, as long as he could be
rlm@0: with her... Riku. No, he wasn't done yet. He had to find Riku. It
rlm@0: wasn't complete without him. But he was halfway there now. Together,
rlm@0: they'd find him. Focusing back on his question he tried to ignore the
rlm@0: way her soft, smaller body felt pressed against his back. “But if
rlm@0: both the Doorway to the Darkness and the Doorway to the Light are
rlm@0: Kingdom Hearts, shouldn't it be the same place?”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Hikari giggled against his back, letting her hands wander. “Yes and
rlm@0: no. You sure are full of questions, aren't you Sora?” Leaning up on
rlm@0: her tiptoes, she kissed the back of his neck. She grinned as she felt
rlm@0: him tense up, knowing he must be blushing. This was more fun than she
rlm@0: thought. She was becoming happier and happier that she had had
rlm@0: Sephiroth bring Sora to her. Real or not, she still loved him.
rlm@0: Pretending that she didn't realize his embarrassment, she continued.
rlm@0: “They're the same place, but they're also different. Do you notice
rlm@0: how when you go someplace and come back, it's longer on the way there
rlm@0: than the way back? It's like that. The End of the World you went to
rlm@0: led to the Doorway to the Darkness. Which is Kingdom Hearts. This End
rlm@0: of the World leads to the Doorway to the Light. Which is also Kingdom
rlm@0: Hearts. Much like we all have darkness and light inside of us, so
rlm@0: does Kindgom Hearts, the heart of everything. So it all depends on
rlm@0: where you're going. Once you know the secrets, there's very little
rlm@0: you can't do, Sora. Everything is as far away or as close as you want
rlm@0: it to be.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sora shook his head trying to make sense out of too many things at
rlm@0: once. “I don't understand.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “That's exactly the problem. You're trying too hard to understand.
rlm@0: This isn't two plus two equals four. This is two plus two equals
rlm@0: whatever you want it to be.” Her hands rested on his shoulders. How
rlm@0: could she explain it? A fairytale her grandmother had told her came
rlm@0: to mind. “A long time ago, Darkness began to spread throughout the
rlm@0: worlds. No matter what people did, they couldn't stop it until
rlm@0: everything was consumed by shadows. But out of the darkness, their
rlm@0: came light. The worlds were reborn from the hearts of the children.
rlm@0: If the worlds were reborn from these special hearts, then wouldn't it
rlm@0: be different depending on which heart? That's why each world is so
rlm@0: different. But this place lies on the outskirts of all the worlds,
rlm@0: where everything is and isn't. This place is a little bit of
rlm@0: everything. Or it's just what you want it to be. Or it's just what
rlm@0: you don't want it to be. It's at the very edge of reality, of life,
rlm@0: of everything. That's why it's the End of the World.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “I remember hearing that before. Your grandmother told it to you,
rlm@0: right? But it was just a fairytale, wasn't it?” Sora turned to face
rlm@0: Hikari, the petite girl looking up at him.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Every fairytale has some basis in truth. But truth is subjective.
rlm@0: It changes depending on what eyes you view it with. In one version of
rlm@0: that story, everything was destroyed by the darkness. Then it was
rlm@0: reborn from the hearts of some special young girls.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sora's eyes went wide as pieces began to fall into place. “The
rlm@0: Princesses of Heart? Did they rebuild everything? Is that why all of
rlm@0: them were needed to get to Kingdom Hearts?”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Hikari seemed to ignore him, continuing on. “And in another version,
rlm@0: the lives of these specific girls were shrouded in darkness. So they
rlm@0: escaped from the darkness and rebuilt their lives here, crafting out
rlm@0: their own little worlds to get some light. Both versions are true in
rlm@0: their own way. It all depends.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “But how can they both be true?” Sora looked down into Hikari's
rlm@0: lavender eyes, watching how they sparkled. Even after all he had
rlm@0: seen, he couldn't wrap his mind around it.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “All of these different worlds. All of them separate, but all of
rlm@0: them connected. Just because one is true doesn't make another false.
rlm@0: One isn't mutually exclusive to another. Darkness and Light. Love and
rlm@0: Hate. Even seemingly contradictory things can be so wrapped together
rlm@0: that you can't tell the difference,” Hikari explained, gazing up at
rlm@0: the taller boy. So cute. So loyal. Like a beloved puppy dog. Although
rlm@0: his loyalty wasn't the same as Sephiroth's or Riku's. They would both
rlm@0: do whatever was necessary for her. This boy followed his heart. He
rlm@0: couldn't go against it, couldn't go to the extents that his friend
rlm@0: would. But he was all she had right now. And she did love him, as
rlm@0: foolish as that was. And until the end came, at least she could be
rlm@0: with him. 'I hate you for not being real. For not existing outside of
rlm@0: this dream. But I love you all the same.' Leaning up on her tiptoes,
rlm@0: she kissed him. He nearly took a step off of the rock they stood on,
rlm@0: but she clung to him with desperate fervor, with the need of someone
rlm@0: who knew they were dying, running out of time. He slowly held onto
rlm@0: her, kissing back. 'Love me, Sora. Please. Before I lose you.'
rlm@0: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Kairi,” a voice said softly.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: It was warm and loving, soft and silky like flower petals on your
rlm@0: skin. Memories that she couldn't quite recall were spun around that
rlm@0: voice. It was comforting. Something that she could identify with
rlm@0: hundreds of different emotions. Most of all, it made her feel safe.
rlm@0: After all her travelling, that voice made her feel at peace. 'Mom!'
rlm@0: Kairi's eyes shot open as the realization finally sunk in. That was
rlm@0: the voice. She felt ashamed that she had nearly forgotten it, that
rlm@0: she had every allowed herself to forget who it belonged to. The first
rlm@0: thing she saw was her room. That immediately worried her. Plushies
rlm@0: filled her bed just as before. Her heart began to race. 'Not here.
rlm@0: Please, not here. Not this place again,' she thought desperately. A
rlm@0: cold feeling seemed to pump through her veins as she kicked the
rlm@0: blanket off. Why did she always have to end up in this place? It was
rlm@0: a prison, neither here nor there. But something was different. Not
rlm@0: wrong, but different. Her eyes finally travelled to the locked door
rlm@0: only to find that it was no longer locked. A beautiful older woman
rlm@0: stood in the doorway, smiling at her. “Mom!” The word sprang unbidden
rlm@0: to her lips. It was her mother. She knew it. Springing to her feet,
rlm@0: she dashed towards her mother and the open door. Her heart cried out
rlm@0: as she waited for her mother to disappear just as Riku had so many
rlm@0: times, for the door to come crashing shut. But neither happened. She
rlm@0: found herself nestled in her mother's embrace, clinging as tightly as
rlm@0: she could manage.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “It's okay, Kairi. Everything is just fine. Don't worry, honey,”
rlm@0: Kairi's mother reassured, stroking her hair. “You must have had a
rlm@0: nightmare. It's gone now.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Mom...” Kairi blinked tearfully as she buried her head against her
rlm@0: mother's shoulder. Everything had been so confusing. But now she was
rlm@0: here. With her mother. It really must've been a dream after all. She
rlm@0: wasn't alone searching for something at the end of the universe
rlm@0: through countless numbers of worlds. She was safe and sound at home.
rlm@0: Home. This place that she'd been so frightened of, that had been a
rlm@0: prison to her, now felt remarkably familiar in the way only a place
rlm@0: you have lived your life in can be. The subtle reassurances of smells
rlm@0: and sights and sounds all mixed with her mother's embrace all helped
rlm@0: soothe her weary and battered soul. Her mother slowly pulled away to
rlm@0: look into her eyes, stroking her cheek gently. She felt childish
rlm@0: because of it but she was happy for it nonetheless. She looked into
rlm@0: those eyes, remembering how they had seen her through so much. All
rlm@0: those times she had come home crying. Whenever she was so very
rlm@0: lonely. When she had hurt herself. She had always been there for her.
rlm@0: Just like now.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Are you all right, Kairi?” her mother asked gently.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Kairi nodded, blinking her tears away. “I'm just fine, mom. I missed
rlm@0: you so much.” She bit her lip after the last part. What a stupid
rlm@0: thing to say. She hadn't really been gone. But it sure felt like it.
rlm@0: Laughing, Kairi's mother shook her head. “I missed you, too, honey.
rlm@0: Glad to have you awake again.” She kissed her forehead before
rlm@0: stepping back. “You should get dressed. Breakfast is almost ready.”
rlm@0: Nodding, Kairi pulled her hands to her heart. Something jostled
rlm@0: against her hands. “I'll be down in a few minutes.” She watched her
rlm@0: mother head back towards the kitchen, leaving her alone in her room
rlm@0: to try to figure things out. Her hand clasped the necklace she wore,
rlm@0: feeling it's grooves. The Keyblade. Then... She gazed down at the
rlm@0: tiny key in her hand. But if the Keyblade were still with her, then
rlm@0: how could it have just been a dream? It had to have been real. A
rlm@0: sudden terror and hope gripped her at the same time. If it was a
rlm@0: dream, then Riku and Sora had just been in her head. All of her
rlm@0: friends had been part of her dream. But if the Keyblade was still
rlm@0: with her, it couldn't have been a dream.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: She had to know. If it was a dream, then she had just lost both the
rlm@0: boys she loved more than anything. If it wasn't, then how could she
rlm@0: be home? Her mouth suddenly went dry as she came up with a way to
rlm@0: find out. She licked her suddenly dry lips, staring at the open
rlm@0: doorway for a long moment. This could plunge her back into the prison
rlm@0: her room had so often been. But it might be her only way to find out
rlm@0: if it was a dream or not. Part of herself begged her not to try it,
rlm@0: to run downstairs to be with her mother again. But she couldn't. She
rlm@0: couldn't just leave it alone, let it die. They had to be real. She'd
rlm@0: come too far to give up on them now. Steeling herself, she closed her
rlm@0: door. Nothing. But that didn't prove anything. That door had been
rlm@0: locked so many times. And there was often a voice on the other side
rlm@0: of it. That strangely familiar voice. And Riku was trapped behind it.
rlm@0: “Riku?” she called out at last. “Riku, are you there?” Her heart
rlm@0: thundered as she waited for his reply. 'Please. He has to be there.
rlm@0: He has to. It can't just be a dream. I love him.' “Riku?” she begged.
rlm@0: “What is it, Kairi?”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Kairi stared wide eyed at the door. Her mind couldn't comprehend it
rlm@0: for a moment. His voice had come from behind her. She spun about to
rlm@0: face him. And there he was, smiling the smile she'd grown to love,
rlm@0: the salty ocean air sending his silver hair fluttering in the wind.
rlm@0: Salty ocean air? Her shoes crunched on the sand as she stepped
rlm@0: towards him. She was back on the beach, back on the Destiny Islands.
rlm@0: She was home. This... This was home, too. “Riku...” She gripped his
rlm@0: shirt, her hands nearly shaking. Real. He was real. She hugged him
rlm@0: fiercely. “Riku! Don't you ever leave me again!” Her voice was mixed
rlm@0: with anger and fear and joy and love. He was real. He was in her
rlm@0: arms. She didn't care about the how and why at the moment, only on
rlm@0: what was.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Hey! What did Riku do?” Sora asked, his hands behind his head. His
rlm@0: face was a combination of jealousy and surprise.
rlm@0: Kairi laughed, letting one arm go to drag Sora into a big group hug.
rlm@0: The boys didn't hug, instead both standing in her grasp. Silly boys.
rlm@0: Riku's gloved hand rested on her back while Sora merely stood there a
rlm@0: bit embarrassedly. “You're both here. It's been so long since we've
rlm@0: all been together like this.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Sora looked at her curiously. “What do you mean? Here on the beach?
rlm@0: It's only been since this morning.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Speaking of that, have either of you gotten any work done on the
rlm@0: raft or do I have to do all the work by myself?” Riku asked, raising
rlm@0: a silver eyebrow.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Kairi shook her head quickly. “No! I mean... Let's not do that.
rlm@0: Let's just stay here. The three of us. Always.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: This seemed to perplex Riku. “You don't want to go travelling? To
rlm@0: see all the worlds out there? To see what lies beyond our Islands? I
rlm@0: was sure you did, Kairi.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Shaking her head, Kairi held her boys closer. “I think I've had
rlm@0: enough travelling for a very long time.” She leaned closer, dropping
rlm@0: her voice to a conspiratorial hush. “But I do think I could travel
rlm@0: over to the dock before either of you can.” Giggling, she pushed away
rlm@0: from the two boys and began running towards the dock. She could hear
rlm@0: them both running behind her. The sound of laughter filled the
rlm@0: crystal blue skies above.
rlm@0: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Kairi stumbled over her mattress and nearly landed face first on the
rlm@0: floor of her bedroom. What had been sand mere moments before was now
rlm@0: carpet, the ocean now her blanket on the floor. She was back in her
rlm@0: room, she knew. But how and why? What was going on? She was used to
rlm@0: travelling back and forth, but not so suddenly.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Kairi, breakfast!” her mother called from downstairs.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Walking slowly to the door, Kairi stepped over where she remembered
rlm@0: seeing herself bleeding to death on the floor. Though there was no
rlm@0: indication of that here, the memory was still frightening. Pausing
rlm@0: for a moment, she looked and her wristbands, wondering if her scars
rlm@0: would still be there. Slowl reaching for one of them, she could see
rlm@0: her hands shaking. No, there wouldn't be, she told herself. There
rlm@0: couldn't be. She wasn't dead, was she? Opening the door, which she
rlm@0: half expected to be locked, she headed out her door.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Kairi.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Kairi nearly jumped at the voice. How did people continually sneak
rlm@0: up on her? Was her peripheral vision that bad? She looked back over
rlm@0: her shoulder from where she was halfway down the hallway. Behind her,
rlm@0: near her room, stood the blindfolded silver haired boy she had met
rlm@0: before. He had his hood up this time, but bits of silver peaked out
rlm@0: from underneath it. What was he doing here? And who was he? He
rlm@0: couldn't be Riku. Riku was trapped behind Kingdom Hearts. “Who are
rlm@0: you?”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: He didn't acknowledge what she said, 'looking' directly at her
rlm@0: despite the blindfold. “Kairi, you can't stay here. You're running
rlm@0: out of time. We're all running out of time. You're the only one who
rlm@0: can stop her.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “I... I don't know what your talking about. Stop who? How can I stop
rlm@0: her? I just want..” Kairi shook her head. “I don't know what I want
rlm@0: anymore. I want to be with my mother. I want to be with Sora and
rlm@0: Riku. I want my friends.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Kairi? Are you almost ready?” Her mother called from the kitchen.
rlm@0: “Yeah, just about,” Kairi called back. When she turned to ask the
rlm@0: boy again, he was gone. She stared for a moment longer before heading
rlm@0: to the kitchen. What had he been trying to tell her? And why did he
rlm@0: look so much like Riku?
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: When Kairi reached the kitchen, her breakfast was already on the
rlm@0: table. “Oh, mom... It looks delicious.” She kissed her mother's
rlm@0: cheek. The older woman beamed as she sat down. It had been so long
rlm@0: since they'd had breakfast together. Or had it? She was still under
rlm@0: the assumption that she had been on the Destiny Islands for years
rlm@0: now. But that couldn't be the case if she was here. Whatever the
rlm@0: case, breakfast was wonderful.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “I was working on that Princess Mint costume for you, Kairi. I
rlm@0: should have it finished for you by the convention. I'm going to stop
rlm@0: by the store later for some gold paint so I can make you her rings,”
rlm@0: her mother explained.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Mom... Thanks so much.” Kairi felt her throat constricting and her
rlm@0: eyes blurring. Her mother had always supported her love of
rlm@0: videogames. The older woman had made so many different costumes for
rlm@0: her over the years, trying so hard to get them down beautifully for
rlm@0: her only daughter. It had only been the two of them for so many
rlm@0: years. They were all the other had. Kairi's mother had driven her all
rlm@0: over to conventions, sometimes making a costume for herself so she
rlm@0: wouldn't 'look too much like a goofy parent'. She felt ashamed for
rlm@0: having torn up her mother's birthday cards after the children at
rlm@0: school had ridiculed her over it. This world could be so cruel, but
rlm@0: never her mother. 'I want to be here with you, mom. But I also want
rlm@0: to be there with Sora and Riku. I.. I can't choose. I can't pick
rlm@0: which one. I can't give you up. But I can't give them up either.' If
rlm@0: she was supposed to stop the Heartless by either going back through
rlm@0: the door and shutting it or staying and forgetting her mother, how
rlm@0: could she do either of them? But if she didn't, then the Heartless
rlm@0: would consume everything. But that was only if she believed there
rlm@0: were Heartless. And those things surely didn't exist here, where
rlm@0: normalicy ruled. But wasn't her depressing lonely real life where the
rlm@0: Heartless were born? 'Stop thinking about it,' she commanded. The
rlm@0: fact that she was home was what mattered.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Picking up the dishes, Kairi brought them to the sink. “I'll clean
rlm@0: up breakfast.” It was the least she could do. She felt guilty that
rlm@0: she could have thought about killing herself. How could she?
rlm@0: Everything was fine, wasn't it? She felt a little funny as she
rlm@0: admitted that. But it was true, wasn't it? Gloved hands wrapped
rlm@0: around her thin waist, holding her close to a warm, well built body.
rlm@0: Her breath caught in her throat as she felt the hands move up,
rlm@0: caressing her breasts through her shirt. Riku... She didn't know how,
rlm@0: but she knew. Somehow, she wasn't surprised when she saw they were in
rlm@0: the secret cave back on the Destiny Islands. She could feel his hands
rlm@0: mold against her skin, his fingers tracing circles around her
rlm@0: nipples, the cloth suddenly feeling like very little protection
rlm@0: against anything at all.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “You don't have to, Kairi. I'll put them back in the picnic basket
rlm@0: and clean them up later. My mom knew I was having a picnic today
rlm@0: anyway, so she won't mind,” Riku's voice said behind her. She could
rlm@0: only nod, her breath still caught in her chest. “And I don't want to
rlm@0: let go of you just yet,” he whispered in her ear.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: His breath was warm against her ear, sending a shiver down her
rlm@0: spine. Though her thoughts were still a bit fuzzy as to how she had
rlm@0: gotten here, she didn't want it to end. She turned to face him,
rlm@0: looking up at the silver haired boy. “Riku... I don't want to,
rlm@0: either.” Her hands reached up, stroking his cheeks, her eyes gazing
rlm@0: up into his. How long had she wanted this, if only as nothing more
rlm@0: than a fantasy? But now... She could feel his hands slide under her
rlm@0: shirt, could feel his palms press against her breasts. Each move was
rlm@0: slow and deliberate, sending sparks throughout her. She looked out
rlm@0: through half lidded eyes as he bent down to nibbled on her neck. The
rlm@0: ground seemed to reach out for her as she found herself sitting with
rlm@0: Riku on the picnic blanket, moaning softly from his touch. Her hands
rlm@0: slid up and down his sides, carressing whatever part of him she could.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Kairi, I love you,” Riku whispered, leaning forward and kissing her
rlm@0: softly. And again. And again. Kairi kissed back, yearning for his
rlm@0: kiss. Her tongue teased his even as he began to pull her shirt up.
rlm@0: They seperated as he pulled the doubled white and black sleeveless
rlm@0: shirts over her head. Blushing deeper, she went back to kissing him,
rlm@0: his hands now stroking her stomach and then her thighs. Her own hands
rlm@0: moved over the smooth expanse of his back, stopping down at his
rlm@0: behind as she pulled him closer. “Riku,” she whispered into his ear.
rlm@0: Nibbling on his ear, she could feel his hands beginning to pull off
rlm@0: her skirt and underwear. Sitting up, she helped him to get rid of it.
rlm@0: Gazing back at him, naked except for her choker, necklace, and
rlm@0: wristbands, she went to work getting rid of his clothes. It wasn't
rlm@0: fun if she was the only one naked, after all.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Running her hands up and down his bare chest, she slowly began to
rlm@0: work her way down his stomach, kissing him as she went. Her hands
rlm@0: hesitated for a moment at the zipper of his pants. Slowly unzipping
rlm@0: it, he helped her pull them off, leaving him gloriously naked before
rlm@0: her. He was beautiful. Just as she'd always imagined him. She
rlm@0: couldn't believe this was happening. She had fantasized about this
rlm@0: before, and now she was finally with him. It was... wonderful. He
rlm@0: cupped her cheek, gazing into her eyes. She felt safe with him. She
rlm@0: knew he'd do anything for her. Taking his hand, she kissed his
rlm@0: fingers gently, never pulling her eyes away from him. There was
rlm@0: concern in his eyes, but she simply smiled and nodded. How sweet. He
rlm@0: didn't want to hurt her. But she wanted to be with him in this
rlm@0: perfectly romantic way.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Laying down on the blanket, she shifted about, gazing up at the boy
rlm@0: over her. Reaching out for him, she pulled him down on top of her,
rlm@0: feeling his body against her own. Every inch of his skin that came
rlm@0: into contact with hers felt so wonderful, leaving her with a thousand
rlm@0: different sensations. Her hands buried in his hair as he kissed her
rlm@0: throat, right above the choker. His hands finally rested on her hips.
rlm@0: The feeling of him at her entrance nearly made her hold her breath.
rlm@0: It felt like an eternity as she waited. This was it. She didn't
rlm@0: regret this at all. She loved him. She had always loved him. They
rlm@0: kissed as he began to ease his way into her. Her breath was quick and
rlm@0: rapid, her excitement mixing with her anxiety as she waited for him
rlm@0: to go deeper inside of her. It took a force of will to get herself
rlm@0: breathing anywhere near normally again.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Fingernails scratched against Riku's back as she felt him tear past
rlm@0: her barrier. Tears stung her eyes as she clutched his naked body
rlm@0: closer to her own. He froze simply holding onto her. Gradually, the
rlm@0: pain began to dissipate. She slowly began to move against him. He
rlm@0: took the hint, starting to move inside of her again. It was...
rlm@0: Delicious. She loved being so close to him, feeling him with her,
rlm@0: inside of her, around her. Her hands wandered everywhere they could,
rlm@0: wanting to feel all of him. They moved in unison, their pants and
rlm@0: moans forming a soft chorus that filled the silence. Her eyes closed
rlm@0: tightly, her head moving on the blanket.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Kairi...” Sora's voice moaned above her.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Blinking bleary eyes, Kairi strained to see in the dim cave. Had
rlm@0: Sora seen them? Sudden guilt blossomed inside of her. How hurt was he
rlm@0: to see this? But that wasn't it at all. She was looking up at him,
rlm@0: her hands on his chest. Sora moaned as he continued to push inside of
rlm@0: her. “Sora?” But... Wasn't Riku? She shifted against him, her body
rlm@0: burning up. What the hell was going on? Nothing. Nothing, she told
rlm@0: herself. It was Sora. She'd been here with Sora all along. The panic
rlm@0: slowly ebbed away. Of course. She loved them both. She must have
rlm@0: imagined it was Riku as well.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Moaning softly, she let her hands carress up and down his chest and
rlm@0: stomach as they moved against each other. “Sora...” she whispered,
rlm@0: closing her eyes once more as one of his hands went to her breast,
rlm@0: pinching and rubbing her nipple. Shifting against him, the blanket
rlm@0: underneath her seemed to shift as well. The ground underneath it was
rlm@0: suddenly much, much softer. His fingers continued to pinch at her
rlm@0: nipple while he began to speed up his movement inside of her.
rlm@0: Shifting again, Kairi felt the ground move beneath her again.
rlm@0: Something rolled against her head. Blinking swiftly, she tried to
rlm@0: find out what it was. The sooner it was out of the way, the sooner
rlm@0: she could get back to focusing on Sora.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Staring at the plushie of Yuffie staring back at her, Kairi could
rlm@0: only blink dumbly. How had it gotten to her? Had it fallen from
rlm@0: somewhere. She looked up to ask Sora, but she couldn't see him. Her
rlm@0: heart froze. If he wasn't there, then why could she still feel him?
rlm@0: Her gaze slowly went down. Her fingers pinched and rubbed at her
rlm@0: hardened nipple. Her other hand was between her legs, her fingers
rlm@0: rubbing up inside of herself. Her hands stopped their motions as she
rlm@0: stared in abject horror. It was her. It hadn't been Sora or Riku. It
rlm@0: had been her. The hands, everything she had felt, it had all just
rlm@0: been her. She suddenly felt sick. Pulling her hands away, she curled
rlm@0: up into a ball on her bed. It felt like she had just woken up from a
rlm@0: beautiful dream, only to have life remind her she could have none of
rlm@0: it. “No!!” she cried, digging her fingernails into her skin. “No!!!”
rlm@0: Why? What the hell was wrong with her? What was real? And what was
rlm@0: her own mind?
rlm@0: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Kairi stared at the screen of her tv hours later. She had quickly
rlm@0: pulled her clothes back on after finding them all in a pile on the
rlm@0: clothes. Random battle music played in front of her. FF7 had been
rlm@0: playing on her screen for the past few hours now, lighting up her
rlm@0: otherwise dark room as she tried desperately to drown out her fears.
rlm@0: There was only the game in front of her. Nothing else. Only it was
rlm@0: real. This had been her only solace for so long. She would come home
rlm@0: from school and do exactly this, pretending the outside world wasn't
rlm@0: there at all. She couldn't even look at herself in the mirror. It
rlm@0: only filled her with repulsion. It wasn't that she had a problem with
rlm@0: doing things to herself. It was that she had honestly believed it was
rlm@0: Riku or Sora doing thos things to her. And the fact that it wasn't
rlm@0: scared the hell out of her. That she could have lost herself that
rlm@0: much frightened her. And so she played. And played.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Reaching out, Kairi grabbed a glass, taking a sip of stale water.
rlm@0: Going downstairs could resolve that problem with a fresh glass of
rlm@0: water, but if she did that it would risk thinking again. And thinking
rlm@0: was not on her agenda at the moment. She was going to put that off as
rlm@0: long as possible. Her wary, tired eyes blinked in the dark room as
rlm@0: she read the screen again. She must have misread what Aerith had
rlm@0: said. FF7 was one of her favorite games. She knew it backwards and
rlm@0: forwards. Dialogue shouldn't be surprising her this time through. But
rlm@0: even upon closer inspection, it still felt off.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 'She's lost in someone's spell, Cloud. I can't get her back on my
rlm@0: own,' Aerith said on screen.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “What?” Kairi leaned forward, staring at the screen. Clicking
rlm@0: forward, Cloud was given a choice.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 'There has to be some way that we can wake her up.'
rlm@0: Or;
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 'It's up to her. Only she can break the spell. We can't reach her
rlm@0: there.'
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Dropping the controller, the chestnut haired girl stepped away from
rlm@0: her tv. They weren't... They couldn't be... talking about her? Could
rlm@0: they? It wasn't possible. But how many other impossible things had
rlm@0: she seen? For some reason, being home made it all seem outside the
rlm@0: realm of possibility once more. Things she would've been forced to
rlm@0: accept in the other world felt so foreign here.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Throwing her door open, Kairi walked to the bathroom. She was
rlm@0: exhausted and scared. They were preying on her mind. Maybe sleep
rlm@0: would be a good idea after all. If it could hold the specters at bay,
rlm@0: then it would be worthwhile. Taking a handful of ice cold water, she
rlm@0: splashed her face, trying to force her weariness away. Her wet bangs
rlm@0: clung to her forehead as she looked back up. Her eyes shifted to
rlm@0: someone behind her. It was him. The cloaked boy again. She whirled
rlm@0: about to face him, but to her surprise, he wasn't there.
rlm@0: “Kairi,” he said from the mirror.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Turning to face him, she rested heavily against the sink. She
rlm@0: suddenly felt very, very weak. It was as if the strength had been
rlm@0: sapped from her body. It felt like she had lived eons and eons. It
rlm@0: all felt so hopeless. She wanted to give up.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “You can't give up. The you of this world gave up. But deep in your
rlm@0: heart, I know how strong you are, Princess. You can handle this. You
rlm@0: can handle anything. You're stronger than this. You can fight through
rlm@0: her spells. You can't spend eternity trapped in this spell or you'll
rlm@0: never set Riku free. You'll never see Sora again. Or your mother.
rlm@0: You'll only see this illusions of them. They all need you, Kairi. You
rlm@0: can't let them down.” The boy pressed his hand against the glass.
rlm@0: “Only you can free yourself of this prison. Only you have the
rlm@0: strength to come and set them all free.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Very slowly, Kairi nodded. “I'll fight. For them. I'll set them free.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The boy smiled faintly. Walking to the bathroom door in the mirror,
rlm@0: he opened it. “I know you will, Kairi.” With that, he stepped out,
rlm@0: disappearing.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Clutching the Keyblade necklace in her hand, she stepped out of the
rlm@0: same door on her own side of the mirror. “So they're still out there.
rlm@0: This isn't home.” If she was going to save them, she had to escape.
rlm@0: There would be no one to come to her rescue. She could feel that
rlm@0: things were... off. It was all real, but it had the same feeling as
rlm@0: dreams and memories. Part of her still wanted to stay here. It was
rlm@0: safe, wasn't it? Images of Riku, Sora, her mother, and her friends
rlm@0: filled her mind. Tidus's name on a gravestone in the Graveyard of
rlm@0: Dreams. They needed her. She couldn't let them down.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Walking down the empty hallway, Kairi made her way to her mother's
rlm@0: room. The light was on and she could hear her mother in the other
rlm@0: room, still sewing the costume for her daughter. For a moment,
rlm@0: Kairi's will faltered. Could she deny her mother? Even if she was
rlm@0: only an illusion? She had to. If she had a real mother, then she
rlm@0: needed her elsewhere, not in this spell. Kairi stepped through the
rlm@0: door.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Oh, Kairi, you're awake.” Looking up, the older woman smiled
rlm@0: gently. “Maybe you could try this on for me. I want to make sure it
rlm@0: will fit well.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Taking a deep breath, Kairi closed her eyes. She wanted to speak,
rlm@0: but her throat closed off painfully. It still felt like her mother,
rlm@0: or her memories of her mother at the least.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “What's wrong?” A soft chuckle. “You don't think you're getting fat
rlm@0: do you? Not that again. You're beautiful the way you are, Kairi.”
rlm@0: That halted Kairi for a moment. 'Do I even look the same in the
rlm@0: other world? If what Sophie said was right, that I'm what I want to
rlm@0: be in this world, do I look different, too?' She pushed the thought
rlm@0: away. There would be time for thoughts like that later. Much later.
rlm@0: Right now she had to escape this dream. “You aren't my mother, are
rlm@0: you?” Looking up, her eyes locked on her mother's. The older woman
rlm@0: was still smiling.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “I can be. If you want me to. Just like Riku and Sora can be here,
rlm@0: too. With you, Kairi. Think about it. You could all go to conventions
rlm@0: together and play games and never have to worry again. Never grow
rlm@0: old. Never be teased again. I'll always love you. They'll always love
rlm@0: you. No need to bleed to death in your room. Just live. One
rlm@0: beautiful, everlasting moment,” the woman promised.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Tears dripped down Kairi's cheeks. The princess shook her head. “I
rlm@0: can't. I just can't. They're all waiting for me. I can't stay here
rlm@0: and leave them.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The woman laughed, shaking her head. “So you can't do it now, but
rlm@0: you could do it when you were only leaving your mother? You sure are
rlm@0: altruistic when it's for the boys you lust after, aren't you? Your
rlm@0: mother, on the other hand, will just have to deal with her daughter's
rlm@0: suicide. No big deal, right?”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “No!! It wasn't like that!” Kairi shouted, her hands clenching
rlm@0: against her heart. “I wouldn't...”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “But you did! So what's the problem with doing it again? You escaped
rlm@0: the life with your mother only to find even more pain. But here,
rlm@0: there is no pain. Only everything you've wanted.” The older woman
rlm@0: smiled gently at her, standing up.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “She's right, Kairi. We'll always be here with you,” Riku stated,
rlm@0: standing to her mother's right. They were still in Kairi's mother's
rlm@0: room, but the floor was now sandy and the ocean was lapping behind
rlm@0: them.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “We'll never leave your side again,” Sora replied, to her mother's
rlm@0: left.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Kairi laughed a small, sad laugh, smiling despite herself. “Thanks,
rlm@0: guys. I love you all for that. But you've never left me.” She pressed
rlm@0: her palm against her heart. “We'll always be together because our
rlm@0: hearts are always together. No matter how far apart we are. That's
rlm@0: why I can't stay. I need to go find you both. The real you. Whatever
rlm@0: 'real' is these days. But it doesn't matter. I need to see you both
rlm@0: again.” Turning to the woman who was not her mother, she shook her
rlm@0: head. “I'm sorry. I can't.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The woman nodded, her facade disappearing. She sighed softly. “I
rlm@0: know.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Pulling up her Keyblade, Kairi plunged it into the heart of the
rlm@0: woman, unlocking it. The illusion around her dissolved into
rlm@0: nothingness, the light carrying her away.
rlm@0: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: She was moving. At least, it felt as if she were moving. The
rlm@0: brilliant light made if difficult to see motion. The light moved
rlm@0: around her in a stream, flowing ever forward, twisting and turning.
rlm@0: Whether she even had a body in this place, she couldn't be certain.
rlm@0: Everything was light.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “You have unlocked the light in the heart of Longing,” the voice
rlm@0: that existed in this light said from all around her. Whether it was
rlm@0: part of the light or part of herself or something entirely different,
rlm@0: she didn't know.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “I wanted to use your power to bring back the one I love. I wanted
rlm@0: to live in a beautiful moment forever with him. He was one of Ansem's
rlm@0: first test subjects and I thought I could bring him back through you.
rlm@0: Time is our enemy. It robs us of those we love and forever heads
rlm@0: forward, crushing all in its path. I wanted to stop time, to live out
rlm@0: one beautiful moment forever. Now.. Now that my body and heart have
rlm@0: been separated, we'll go our different ways, I guess. But.. Now I can
rlm@0: be with him. Forever. Thank you.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “I...” Kairi closed her eyes tightly, if she had them. She could
rlm@0: feel a tear slip out into the light. “Thank you for letting me see my
rlm@0: mother. Goodbye.” She could almost feel a gentle carress before the
rlm@0: light began to fade.
rlm@0: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Kairi!!” Relm hugged her as she sat up in bed. “You're okay!” She
rlm@0: smiled brightly. The artist looked as if she'd been hugely panicked.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “I told you she'd be fine,” Yuffie said nonchalantly. “A few spells
rlm@0: won't do in our princess, will they?” Grinning, the ninja placed a
rlm@0: hand on Kairi's shoulder.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “You did manage to fight off Ultimecia's spells. We were all
rlm@0: worried.” Aerith winked. “Even Yuffie.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Was not!” Yuffie retorted, crossing her arms.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Kairi closed her eyes, her head tilted back. She was back. There was
rlm@0: still a chance. Blinking her eyes open, she looked over at Aerith. “I
rlm@0: need to get to the Destiny Islands. I'm running out of time. They
rlm@0: need me.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Aerith nodded. “Then we better hurry.” Standing up, the flower girl
rlm@0: led the way out of the room.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Relm slid off the bed to follow. She placed a kiss on Yuffie's cheek
rlm@0: before hurrying. “We're coming! Wait up!”
rlm@0: Kairi gave Yuffie a curious glance.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Don't ask. Just don't ask.” Yuffie blushed faintly and helped Kairi
rlm@0: to her feet. “Let's get going. Seems like we still have a few things
rlm@0: to do before we get our nice, well deserved vacation.”
rlm@0: Kairi giggled, nodding. “A very long vacation.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The two followed after Aerith.
rlm@0: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: At the large port behind the castle, Squall, Rinoa, and Cloud
rlm@0: waited. “She's ready!” Aerith called as she stepped up to the rest of
rlm@0: them. She smiled brightly at them before poking Cloud playfully.
rlm@0: “Cheer up. It's almost over.”
rlm@0: “Well... Yeah... But is it wise to bring the princess if we'll be
rlm@0: dealing with her former private guard? Sephiroth isn't going to leave
rlm@0: her alone,” Cloud admitted.
rlm@0: “That's why we're coming, silly. She won't be alone on this,” Aerith
rlm@0: reasoned.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The rest of the girls finally arrived behind her.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Kairi glanced around at the huge ocean open in front of them. “How
rlm@0: are we going to get to the Destiny Islands?”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “With the Invincible. It was King Ansem's personal Gummi ship. He
rlm@0: was preparing it before he left. Cid fixed it up for us.” With that,
rlm@0: a giant mechanical airship soared into view. The wind whirled about,
rlm@0: but none seemed to notice as they stared in awe.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The boarding ramp opened, settling on the side of the dock.
rlm@0: “Everyone on board!” a blonde haired woman dressed in a black
rlm@0: business suit called.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Well, well. If it isn't the gorgeous Princess Hikari,” a spikey
rlm@0: haired brunette man said, wearing a similar buisiness suit, albeit
rlm@0: untucked.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “What are you doing here?” Cloud asked, crossing his arms.
rlm@0: “The Turks work directly for the royalty of Hollow Bastion. With
rlm@0: King Ansem gone and Princess Kairi newly returned to us, we decided
rlm@0: we'd keep her company to the End of the World and beyond. You know,
rlm@0: company policy and all that.” Reno winked, eliciting only a sigh from
rlm@0: Cloud.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Cloud nodded at last. “Is everyone ready for this? It's only going
rlm@0: to get worse from here on out. If anyone wants to stay, now's the
rlm@0: time to say it.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Yuffie shook her head. “I lost my home once. I'm not letting them do
rlm@0: it again.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Relm clung to Yuffie's arm, nodding assent. “And I'll go anywhere
rlm@0: with Yuffie.” Yuffie blushed darkly.
rlm@0: Aerith laughed.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Kairi shook her head. “Riku and Sora need me. The Destiny Islands
rlm@0: need me. I have to go.” She smiled, looking at those gathered around
rlm@0: her. “All of you... Thank you so much.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “You don't think we'd give up on you now, do you Kairi? You've
rlm@0: wounded my pride.” Yuffie winked at the princess.
rlm@0: “Are ya comin' or aincha?” Cid yelled from the ramp.
rlm@0: “We're coming, Cid,” Squall said brushing his hair back from his eyes.
rlm@0: “Then let's go,” Rinoa said, smiling at the gunblade bearer.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “To the Destiny Islands,” Kairi said, gazing out to the sea. Destiny
rlm@0: waited out there. And she would be returning to it, whatever the
rlm@0: consequences.