rlm@0: Prism Hearts 
rlm@0: Chapter 16Addicted to You
rlm@0: by Amazoness Duo
rlm@0: amazonessduo@hotmail.com
rlm@0: “Come stop your crying,
rlm@0: It will be all right.Just take my hand,Hold it tight.I will protect
rlm@0: you from all around you.I will be here,
rlm@0: Don't you cry.For one so small,You seem so strong.My arms will hold
rlm@0: you,Keep you safe and warm.This bond between us can't be broken.I
rlm@0: will be here,Don't you cry.Cause you'll be in my heart.Yes, you'll be
rlm@0: in my heart.From this day on, 
rlm@0: Now and forevermore...”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Chaos. A surreal picture out of the mind of a disturbed artist.
rlm@0: Reality on the very brink. This was the sight that greeted Kairi upon
rlm@0: entering the doorway. This was the road to Kingdom Hearts, to the
rlm@0: very heart of the universe. It was where all hearts were born. And
rlm@0: here she was at the very edge of reality, where all the was existed
rlm@0: in some cataclysmic dance. Roads traveled high overhead, twisting and
rlm@0: turning this way and that. Upside down palaces hung in the distant
rlm@0: sky. An ocean seemed to lay peacefully some distance to her right,
rlm@0: climbing vertically into the heavens. So this was the End of the
rlm@0: World. The road to Kingdom Hearts. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Steeling herself, Kairi clutched the tiny key around her neck. Riku
rlm@0: was at the end of this road. And somehow she knew that Sora was
rlm@0: somewhere close by, too. She needed to move forward. They needed her.
rlm@0: This time, she was all alone. There was no one to back her up or to
rlm@0: save her if she got in trouble. The absence of Yuffie and Relm hung
rlm@0: heavily on her, as if something were missing. But too many had
rlm@0: already been hurt because of her. It was time for her to end this.
rlm@0: Once and for all. Images of Yuna and Rikku came unbidden to her mind
rlm@0: and she had to force back the thoughts before she lost the will to go
rlm@0: forward. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “I know you're stronger than that, Kairi,” Riku's voice called to
rlm@0: her. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Remember what you said? I'll always be with you, too,” Sora's voice
rlm@0: carried on the wind. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: A small smile crossed Kairi's lips. The brunette nodded, blinking
rlm@0: tearfilled eyes open. “I'm coming. Just wait a little longer.” Here
rlm@0: she was, finally nearing the end of her journey. It seemed like a
rlm@0: lifetime ago when she had picked up the Keyblade and left to find the
rlm@0: ones she loved. But now it was almost over. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “I'll never get anywhere just standing here,” the princess whispered
rlm@0: to herself. She could almost hear Riku sighing exasperatedly, joking
rlm@0: about how lazy she and Sora were. Thoughts of Sora and Riku spun in
rlm@0: her heart, her driving focus. They were the strength in her heart.
rlm@0: Letting go of the key handing from her neck, Kairi ran down the path
rlm@0: towards the end of the dream. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Got ya!” Sora cried out. His hand struck out as he tried to grab
rlm@0: hold of Hikari. The darkly clad brunette giggled and barely brushed
rlm@0: past him yet again. She danced playfully out of range, her dark
rlm@0: violet eyes shimmering as she watched him. Both were breathing
rlm@0: heavily. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: He moved to the right. She leaned to the left. Grabbing for her, the
rlm@0: princess skittered out of the way once more. In their makeshift
rlm@0: playground, Sora never took his eyes off of Hikari. Since they had
rlm@0: played like this, so much time had passed. But now it felt like they
rlm@0: were back on the Destiny Islands, playing their days away. All of his
rlm@0: thoughts and worries were far in the background. All that mattered
rlm@0: was their game and the mix of emotions it sent rushing through him.
rlm@0: For the time being, all of the darkness that had tried to swallow him
rlm@0: up in his battle against the Heartless was forgotten, replaced only
rlm@0: with the sweet feeling of their chase. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Even in the princess's mind, the end was far from her thoughts. Only
rlm@0: the vaguest hint of the unshed tears in her heart tainted her
rlm@0: otherwise playful thoughts. This was something she had never done
rlm@0: before. And yet, because of Kairi, it was her fondest memory. The
rlm@0: memories of a much crueler version of being chased by cruel, hateful
rlm@0: classmates because she was different was pushed to the furthest
rlm@0: depths of her memory. Now there was only Sora and their game. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: His heart was so pure. In her world of coldness and jagged shadows,
rlm@0: being near him was like snuggling next to a fire on a frigid day. The
rlm@0: days since he'd come to her in this palace at the End of the World,
rlm@0: they had spent talking and playing. Memories from her life as Kairi
rlm@0: flooded back with each moment she was with him. It made it all the
rlm@0: more bittersweet. But in a way, that made it even better. She was
rlm@0: just happy to be able to spend this time with him.So lost in thought
rlm@0: was Hikari that she didn't get out in the way in time when Sora
rlm@0: lunged at her. The spikey haired boy wrapped his arm around her,
rlm@0: momentum carrying them both forward. The two of them landed in a heap
rlm@0: on the grass, Sora on top of Hikari. The flowers around them pushed
rlm@0: off of their stalks, soaring into the air as a multitude of different
rlm@0: colored butterflies.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Hikari gazed up at the boy over her, watching as the butterflies
rlm@0: swirled up over his head into the treetops. So beautiful. Reaching
rlm@0: out, she let her fingers gently stroke his cheek. She giggled softly
rlm@0: when she saw his faint blush spreading over his cheek. How cute. Her
rlm@0: fingers continued onward, playing with his spikey hair. She had... or
rlm@0: had Kairi?... always wondered who would kiss her first. Riku or Sora.
rlm@0: Too bad she had never had the chance to find out. But this was
rlm@0: certainly nice enough. She shifted under him, feeling the Keyblade
rlm@0: Master fall further against her. Very, very nice indeed. No wonder
rlm@0: she... Kairi?... loved him. Sora swallowed as he felt Hikari's soft
rlm@0: caress on his cheek. The beautiful princess smiled sweetly up at him,
rlm@0: her violet eyes drawing him in, deeper and deeper down the rabbit
rlm@0: hole until he wasn't sure that he'd ever get out. Or that he ever
rlm@0: wanted to. If he could just stay like this... No, he couldn't. He
rlm@0: still needed to find Riku. It wasn't right until they were all
rlm@0: together again. But in the meantime...
rlm@0: Hikari leaned forward, her lips brushing Sora's softly. This time,
rlm@0: Sora was more ready for the kiss. Lips melted together as Hikari
rlm@0: continued to brush her fingers through Sora's hair. Despite the
rlm@0: universes vastness and entirity, sometimes a single moment seemed to
rlm@0: take precedence, glowing and taking up all that was. Hikari closed
rlm@0: her eyes, kissing again, wishing she could freeze this moment forever
rlm@0: but knowing all too well it would have to end. And so it did with the
rlm@0: arrival of the message she had been awaiting. Noticing Sephiroth's
rlm@0: arrival at the edge of the clearing they were in, Hikari slowly, ever
rlm@0: so slowly, pulled her lips away from Sora's. Sora merely looked down
rlm@0: at her, puzzled and still fuzzy from their kiss. She smiled up at him.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “She's here, your highness,” Sephiroth announced.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “She is?” Hikari shook her head to clear her own warm, love warped
rlm@0: thoughts. She should have felt her arrival. She had been so lost in
rlm@0: the moment with Sora that she had ignored it. Sephiroth simply
rlm@0: nodded. Looking back up at Sora, she gazed into his eyes. “We have to
rlm@0: hurry. The locks are gone now. We can open Kingdom Hearts.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: A moment passed before Sora could fully understand the implications
rlm@0: of what Hikari had told him. The wait was now over. Kingdom Hearts
rlm@0: could be opened. It was only a matter of time now. Riku would be back
rlm@0: with them soon. “That's great!” He pushed back, sitting on the grass. 
rlm@0: The princess pushed herself up to face the spikey haired boy, her
rlm@0: haunting eyes still holding his own. The story was almost over. And
rlm@0: yet... She didn't quite want to let go. Not yet. Her eyes shimmered
rlm@0: with tears that brimmed but that she held back by force of will. She
rlm@0: wouldn't let him see her cry. Not now. Not when she was so close.
rlm@0: “You're everything I've ever wanted. Or half of everything I've ever
rlm@0: wanted. The darkness and the light. Sora, you were my light. Riku was
rlm@0: my darkness. I loved the light for the hope it always held out to me,
rlm@0: no matter how far away it seemed. And I loved the darkness for the
rlm@0: comfort it gave me and how close it was. The two of you kept me
rlm@0: afloat when I'd all but lost hope. Thank you.” Before he could ask
rlm@0: her what she meant, she got to her feet, smoothing out her black
rlm@0: dress and hurrying to follow Sephiroth. “We have to get to Kingdom
rlm@0: Hearts to open the door, Sora. It's almost over.”Sora nodded, a
rlm@0: little confused by what Hikari had said. But at the same time, he was
rlm@0: thrilled that he could be that important to her. Soon enough,
rlm@0: everything would be complete again. 'Hold on just a little longer,
rlm@0: Riku.'
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The path seemed to decay the further and further Kairi went. It was
rlm@0: as if reality was having more and more difficulty holding itself
rlm@0: together. The pathway was much twistier now. Trees were nearly bent
rlm@0: over. Land seemed to have curled up into itself. Here and there,
rlm@0: Kairi could see gardeners sheers frozen in the process of pruning
rlm@0: with no one to guide them or a twisted bike with no owner. There was
rlm@0: a sword in the side of a blackened, gnarled tree she passed. Origami
rlm@0: birds sat up in the branches of another tree. It felt as if they were
rlm@0: watching her. On the side of the path was a blackboard. Rather than
rlm@0: use chalk, someone had carved into it cruelly. 'The bearer of the
rlm@0: Keyblade came and saved all that was.' Right under it, it went on in
rlm@0: an alternate path. 'The bearer of the Keyblade came and brought ruin
rlm@0: to all.' Both legends of the Keyblade. But which was true? It hardly
rlm@0: mattered. She was here to put things right. She continued on her
rlm@0: maddening path. Kairi stopped suddenly, her eyes fixing ahead of her.
rlm@0: The dirt by her feet rose in a cloud and then stayed that way,
rlm@0: forgetting the cause and effect of settling back down once again. It
rlm@0: was her school, wasn't it? Only, it looked distorted, as if it wasn't
rlm@0: entirely there. The fountain in front was empty, cracked. Books
rlm@0: floated in midair, as if their owners had up and left them hanging. A
rlm@0: cold pit formed in her stomach. Her memories of her other life were
rlm@0: still distant, but she knew that she didn't have any good memories of
rlm@0: this place. And yet there it was, waiting for her at the End of the
rlm@0: World. “Surprised, Mademoiselle Kairi?”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Harle!” Kairi turned to find the harlequin watching her, sitting on
rlm@0: a curved pillar that hadn't been there when she last looked. In fact,
rlm@0: the entire direction she had come looked rewritten. The princess
rlm@0: looked back the way she had come, the path having disappeared
rlm@0: completely. Everything was different now. There were cliffs where
rlm@0: there had been none before, a wasteland instead of a grassland path.
rlm@0: “Silly girl. Zere is no going back. Only going forward now. It iz
rlm@0: your Fate, after all. You have been meant to come here all along.”
rlm@0: Harle hopped down from the tree, sauntering over to Kairi. “Oh, how I
rlm@0: have missed such a pretty face brightening up moi's day.” She grinned
rlm@0: as Kairi took a step back in embarrassment.Shaking off her
rlm@0: embarrassment, Kairi faced Harle. “What's going on here? Why is this
rlm@0: here? Isn't this the End of the World? This can't be what Sora went
rlm@0: through to get here.”Laughing, the harlequin shook her head, bells
rlm@0: jingling along with her laughter. “Of course not. Zis iz your path,
rlm@0: not his. Zere are infinitely many ways to reach Kingdom Hearts just
rlm@0: as zere are infinitely many hearts themselves.”Turning back to the
rlm@0: surreal school awaiting her, the brunette thought over Harle's words.
rlm@0: “So I have to make my own path to Kingdom Hearts? My own version of
rlm@0: the End of the World?”“It iz a path zat has been in your heart all
rlm@0: along, Mademoiselle Kairi. Waiting for you. Waiting for ze day zat
rlm@0: you would travel down it,” Harle explained. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “So...” Kairi took a deep breath. “If this path is different because
rlm@0: of me, how much of this is real?”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Harle laughed again, placing her hands on her hips. “Still you ask
rlm@0: about zis realitie? Have you learned not'ing on your journey,
rlm@0: Mademoiselle Kairi?” 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The harlequin disappeared, fading away. A tap on Kairi's shoulder
rlm@0: nearly sent the already tightly wound girl jumping. Harle grinned at
rlm@0: Kairi's surprise, now standing behind her. “Realitie and dreams all
rlm@0: simply exist. Side by side. They are what you make of them. Izn't zat
rlm@0: what life iz? All of our realities intermixing together? It happens
rlm@0: everyday. What you see isn't necessarily what he sees. And what she
rlm@0: sees is again different. And so on and so on, throughout it
rlm@0: all.”Kairi nodded slowly, sighing. She had to let go of that worry.
rlm@0: In the end, it wasn't important. “It really doesn't matter what's
rlm@0: real, does it? I'm starting to wonder if 'real' even
rlm@0: exists.”Grinning, Harle walked around Kairi. “Now you are catching
rlm@0: on. Forget about zis 'real'. Simply follow your heart. Your heart and
rlm@0: its connection to other hearts is much, much more important than
rlm@0: whatever world you see around it.” Her expression turned more serious
rlm@0: as she continued inspecting Kairi. “So you have made your
rlm@0: decision?”“Of course she has,” another voice broke in. A young blonde
rlm@0: girl in a patient's uniform stood on the edge of the fountain. “She
rlm@0: wouldn't be here otherwise.”“So you've decided to come and see as
rlm@0: well, Aya?” Harle asked wryly, raising an eyebrow. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “What happens here affects everything. Not only the Dragon God are
rlm@0: interested in how it all plays out, you know,” the little girl
rlm@0: argued. Once again, the scope of what was going on was drapped in
rlm@0: Kairi's lap. This wasn't just about her search for Riku and Sora. It
rlm@0: involved all that was. All those many different worlds. All her
rlm@0: friends. Everyone she had met and so many more. And if she couldn't
rlm@0: close the door, it could all be consumed by the Heartless. She had to
rlm@0: hurry. “Thanks, both of you.” She nodded to both women before walking
rlm@0: through the large doors of the school. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “I hope, for all our sakes, zat you are right about her,” Harle said
rlm@0: softly, watching Kairi's retreating form.“She's very strong at heart.
rlm@0: In the end, that's all we could ask for,” Aya replied. “I have faith
rlm@0: in her.”“Yes, but the one she must face iz also strong at heart. If
rlm@0: she fails, zere will be no escape from the Heartless,” Harle said
rlm@0: grimly. “It will be as if God herself has died and left the entirety
rlm@0: of existence to fall apart at the seams.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Aya smiled softly. “Then lets hope she doesn't fail. I don't intend
rlm@0: on being away from Maya for an eternity.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Truth be told, Kairi hadn't come to a decision. Not as such, anyway.
rlm@0: She still didn't know which world she belonged in. The one with her
rlm@0: mother, Hollow Bastion, or the Destiny Islands. The gateway between
rlm@0: worlds would close once she shut the doorway that had let the
rlm@0: Heartless grow from her own original world. She missed her mother
rlm@0: back in that sometimes cruel world. She missed her father and the
rlm@0: kingdom of Hollow Bastion. She missed Riku and Sora and their
rlm@0: carefree days on the Destiny Islands. The answer should be obvious,
rlm@0: but she couldn't get herself to decide which. That gnawed at her as
rlm@0: she went further into the lifeless school.The school looked mostly
rlm@0: the same as she could remember it except for small details.
rlm@0: Everything was curved sinisterly, misshapen. In some places, trees
rlm@0: grew indoors. One of the classrooms seemed to lead into a crashed
rlm@0: airship. It was all an amalgam of different realities along with a
rlm@0: dreamlike quality. Or more accurately, a nightmare. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The icey pit in her stomach wouldn't go away. Everywhere she looked,
rlm@0: people may have been missing, but their shadows remained. Menacing,
rlm@0: hateful. She felt like a scared little girl again, memories of the
rlm@0: lonely, terrified feelings she had had spreading through her veins.
rlm@0: She could hear laughter behind the locked doors, mocking and cruel. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Clenching and unclenching her fists, the princess continued forward.
rlm@0: She nearly stepped on a crumpled piece of paper on the ground.
rlm@0: Hesitantly, she picked it up, already knowing it was a bad idea. It
rlm@0: was the birthday party invitation her mother had made for her to hand
rlm@0: out to her classmates so many years ago. Her mother had spent all
rlm@0: night drawing each seperate invitation. Tears stung at Kairi's eyes
rlm@0: as she remembered. Remembered how thrilled she'd been that her
rlm@0: wonderful mother would make her such beautiful party invitations.
rlm@0: Remembered how embarrassed she'd been when everyone had laughed at
rlm@0: 'Princess Hikari'. Wasn't she too old for that sort of thing, they
rlm@0: had asked? Remembered the shame and regret and anger and pain as she
rlm@0: cried. She couldn't tell her mother what they did. She couldn't tell
rlm@0: her mother that she had felt so ashamed as they'd called her princess
rlm@0: and mocked her over and over again. Princess. What her mother called
rlm@0: her. 'My beautiful princess Hikari.'Tears streaked down Kairi's
rlm@0: cheeks as she leaned heavily against the lockers. “Mom... I miss
rlm@0: you...” she whispered, clutching the crumpled invitation to her
rlm@0: chest. Her body shook slightly as she sobbed. Bittersweet memories.
rlm@0: Crafted of both darkness and light. They filled her existence. “I
rlm@0: miss you, too,” the voice in Kairi's head whispered. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Mom?!” Kairi looked around quickly, her breath catching. She
rlm@0: blinked away her tears rapidly, wiping a wristband over her eyes.
rlm@0: “Mom, is that you?”“Kairi... I used to call you that when you were
rlm@0: little. I didn't know you'd use that nickname for yourself. And you
rlm@0: always were my princess,” the voice answered. For once, Kairi didn't
rlm@0: mistake it's familiarity. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Mom... Where are you?” Kairi asked, a knot forming in her throat.
rlm@0: “I'm at home, Hikari. Just like I've always been. Waiting for
rlm@0: you.”“But... I'm... I'm dying..” Kairi said at last, fresh tears
rlm@0: slipping forth. “... I know. But I'm your mother. I can't just let
rlm@0: you go. I have to try. Even if I can't do much. I wanted to be here
rlm@0: to lead you back home,” the voice whispered. “Mom...” Kairi placed
rlm@0: her face in her hands, suddenly feeling very, very weak. She felt
rlm@0: dizzy. The locker felt cold against her clammy skin. Slowly, the
rlm@0: princess slid down the locker. Everything looked so blurry. She was
rlm@0: having trouble focussing. “..mom...?” she tried to ask, frightened.
rlm@0: The word barely came out as a whisper. It felt so hard to do
rlm@0: anything. Everything felt so heavy. She felt so tired. She tried to
rlm@0: raise a hand to try to pull herself up, but it hardly moved. Blood
rlm@0: stained her wristbands, dripping to the floor beneath her. 'No!!!'
rlm@0: Kairi screamed in her mind. 'Not now! I'm not ready to go yet! Just a
rlm@0: little longer! I can't die now. Not now!!' “Hikari... Please open
rlm@0: your eyes, Hikari. Please. Mommy's right here.” A sob punctuated her
rlm@0: mother's pause. “Please, Hikari. Don't leave me. Don't go away, baby.
rlm@0: Please don't go.” Her mother held onto her dying form brushing her
rlm@0: hair with shakey, panicked hands. “Please...”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Slam!Kairi looked up suddenly, the noise from the locker over head
rlm@0: startling her. Looking back down, everything was back to normal. The
rlm@0: blood was gone. Her mother was nowhere to be seen. She was alone in
rlm@0: the distorted school hallway. “Mom?” No answer. “Damn it.” Kairi
rlm@0: sighed, standing up. At least she had more time. But how much more?
rlm@0: She was dying. She had to make her decision soon. Would she try to
rlm@0: wake up in the world where she was dying in her mother's arms? Or
rlm@0: would she sever her ties with that world and remain on the Destiny
rlm@0: Islands? She was running out of time. Slam!Kairi turned her attention
rlm@0: back to the strange noise. It was coming from a locker. Her locker.
rlm@0: She remembered that much. But what was coming from it. Almost drawn
rlm@0: to it, she reached forward, her heart pounding as she did. Before her
rlm@0: fingers could touch it, the locker flew open. Small creatures piled
rlm@0: out, falling into a heap on the floor. Kairi stepped back, rady to
rlm@0: draw her Keyblade. But they were all the plushies she had made back
rlm@0: home. Her mother had taught her how to sew. Her mother had made all
rlm@0: of her costumes, and Kairi had sewn together plushies of different
rlm@0: characters. And Riku and Sora. Bending over to examine the plushies,
rlm@0: Kairi was disturbed to find all of them had the Heartless symbol sewn
rlm@0: onto them. Whatever it meant, she knew she was getting close. A
rlm@0: rustling noise sounded behind her. Kairi froze. Another. And another.
rlm@0: She felt as if she were being watched. The brunette turned slowly.
rlm@0: Her eyes fell upon a strange Heartless where a shadow had been a
rlm@0: moment before. And then another. And another. The shadows of the
rlm@0: students were becoming misshapen Heartless versions of the students
rlm@0: she had gone to school with. All of them watched her with malevolent
rlm@0: yellow eyes. Her heart froze for just a second. Standing up, she
rlm@0: pulled up the Keyblade. How many of them were there? Could she get
rlm@0: through them all? She had to. No matter what.“Kairi, hurry. You need
rlm@0: to reach the Doorway to the Light. I'll hold them off.” The cloaked
rlm@0: boy stood in the hallway in the midst of the Heartless. He slowly
rlm@0: pulled out his two demon wing shaped swords, seeming to know
rlm@0: precisely where everyone was even under his blindfold. Kairi stared
rlm@0: for a moment, trying to decide if she should leave him alone to face
rlm@0: the growing number of Heartless. “Go! Now!!” he yelled, magic
rlm@0: surrounding him as he prepared for the oncoming Heartless. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Thank you,” Kairi said in return. With a last look back to the
rlm@0: cloaked boy, she ran. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The hallway got more and more shadowed, turning sharp corners as it
rlm@0: went along. Everytime Kairi would look back, the path she had just
rlm@0: walked had changed entirely. Forward was the only way she could go or
rlm@0: she knew she'd be forever lost. It was as if she was being led
rlm@0: forward, the ground behind her shifting as soon as she had moved over
rlm@0: it. It had to be leading her somewhere. She only hoped it was leading
rlm@0: her towards her goal. And suddenly, it ended. The cracked, broken
rlm@0: ground beneath her feet ended directly in front of her, leading into
rlm@0: a deep chasm. Frustrated, the princess turned back the way she had
rlm@0: come. But there was no way back. Directly behind her was only a wall.
rlm@0: There was no way back and no way forward. “This can't be happening. I
rlm@0: don't have time for this. There has to be a way out of here. Please
rlm@0: hang on, Riku and mom.” Gazing around the small corridor she was in,
rlm@0: Kairi couldn't see anything to use to get past. There were no
rlm@0: handholds to climb along the wall over the chasm. And there was no
rlm@0: way back. So there was just... The princess listened closely.
rlm@0: Footsteps? But they sounded so close. In the same corridor she was
rlm@0: in. But where? Listening intently, she could tell it was coming from
rlm@0: right in front of her. Over the chasm? It sounded as if someone was
rlm@0: walking directly in front of her, right over the chasm. She looked
rlm@0: down and saw something aside from the deep drop. Dusty footprints
rlm@0: marred the air, as if someone had stepped on something invisible and
rlm@0: left their footprints behind. Kairi's eyes followed the footprints.
rlm@0: She heard another footstep and saw another form several feet ahead in
rlm@0: the air. And another.Taking a deep breath, Kairi scooted close to the
rlm@0: edge. Maybe there was an invisible walkway. She had to hurry. And
rlm@0: this looked like the only way. Taking a tentative step forward, Kairi
rlm@0: was overjoyed to feel something solid, if invisible, under her foot.
rlm@0: She slowly took another step, careful to follow the dusty footprints.
rlm@0: Good. There was a path. She just hoped it would lead to Kingdom
rlm@0: Hearts. How long did it go on into the darkness? She took her next
rlm@0: step, placing her foot right over the dusty footprint. And fell right
rlm@0: through. Too shocked to utter a proper scream, Kairi
rlm@0: plumetted.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: And so she fell like a shooting star, dropping through the air
rlm@0: towards the world below. The sun shown off of the beautiful ocean
rlm@0: waves. She could feel the Keyblade inside of her heart. It was deep
rlm@0: inside of her, nearly unlocking her heart. The water rose up and
rlm@0: enveloped her. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Water surrounded her, encompassing. She was too weak to swim, her
rlm@0: journey having been so very long. It felt like a lifetime had gone
rlm@0: by. Her mind felt so far. Was she going to drown? Here in this
rlm@0: tranquil ocean? No... They needed her. But she was so weak... It was
rlm@0: hard to move. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Thankfully, someone had dove in after her. Arms grabbed onto her,
rlm@0: dragging the dazed princess out and onto the beach. She slowly caught
rlm@0: her breath, gazing up at the side of the person as she lay there,
rlm@0: unable to get herself to move. Slowly, a face looked down at her. She
rlm@0: smiled faintly as she understood. Her own face. It was time. She was
rlm@0: too exhausted, too weak. She was dying. But she could keep going for
rlm@0: her. The other Kairi sat up, staring at her in shock. “What?” So many
rlm@0: thoughts were rushing behind those violet eyes, thoughts that Kairi
rlm@0: could remember for they had once been her own. Thoughts about whether
rlm@0: or not this was a dream and just who she was.Finally noticing the
rlm@0: handle of the Keyblade sticking out of her chest, the shocked Kairi
rlm@0: took hold of the handle.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “It will be okay, Kairi. I’ll always be with you. There’s nothing to
rlm@0: be afraid of. You just have to reach out and take my hand.” Riku
rlm@0: stood over Kairi, telling her this. Kairi smiled up at him. He was
rlm@0: always there, right beside her. She understood that now, too. The
rlm@0: other Kairi stared, still in awe. “Riku... I...” She reached out for
rlm@0: his hand, but he was already gone. “Riku...” She looked back down at
rlm@0: Kairi, her hand still on the grip of the Keyblade. “Find them,” Kairi
rlm@0: whispered to her confused self. “They need you. They can’t do it
rlm@0: alone.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The confused Kairi slowly nodded. “We should be together. We need
rlm@0: each other.”Smiling softly, Kairi closed her eyes. She could finally
rlm@0: rest. This version of her would take care of it. She would help Sora
rlm@0: and Riku. It wasn't over yet. She could feel the other her take a
rlm@0: firm grip on the handle, pulling it out, not unlocking her heart. She
rlm@0: could feel everything shift as she was engulfed by sparkles, leaving
rlm@0: the other Kairi alone with the Keyblade. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Open the door,” a voice whispered in the lone Kairi's head. Who was
rlm@0: it? She couldn’t quite tell. Looking up, she could see a lone door
rlm@0: standing on the beach, apparently leading to nowhere. It had a large
rlm@0: keyhole on it. It almost seemed to beckon her. Kairi slowly stood up.
rlm@0: If she stayed 
rlm@0: here, her friends might be in danger. She knew they could
rlm@0: handle anything if they were all together again. Sora and Riku were
rlm@0: both lost out there. Maybe she could find them. She would find them.
rlm@0: Wherever they were. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Stepping forward, the young princess used the large, 
rlm@0: unwieldy key to unlock the door awaiting her. As the door slowly
rlm@0: opened, she knew there would be no turning back. This was it. But her
rlm@0: choice was simple. She had to find them. Anything could have happened
rlm@0: to them out there, lost on any one of countless worlds. Without a
rlm@0: glance back, Kairi plunged through the door. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Standing before Kingdom Hearts, watching the stars swirl about it,
rlm@0: Hikari took Sora's hand. It was beautiful. It was, after all, the
rlm@0: very heart of existence itself. Sephiroth stood behind them, as
rlm@0: always keeping an eye on the princess he had sworn to protect. She
rlm@0: could feel it. It was almost time. Her heart pounded. Soon... Just a
rlm@0: little longer. Kairi had almost reached it. “Don't worry, Riku. We're
rlm@0: coming.” Sora promised, one gloved hand on the huge Doorway to the
rlm@0: Light. Nodding, Hikari squeezed Sora's other hand. “It's almost
rlm@0: over.” There. She could feel it. Kairi was ready. “Now. It's time,
rlm@0: Sora.” Letting go of his hand, she stepped back from the boy. He was
rlm@0: the Keyblade Master. It was up to him to unlock the Doorway to the
rlm@0: Light. Of course, the Doorway needed two keys to open. The other key
rlm@0: was being inserted right now.Holding up the Keyblade, Sora pointed it
rlm@0: at the door, letting it's light pulse forth. Turning the Keyblade, he
rlm@0: unlocked the door. Now they'd all be together. He was already with
rlm@0: Hikari. Now they'd have Riku. And the Light would end the Heartless
rlm@0: once and for all. Hikari watched as the light started to spill forth.
rlm@0: “The Light. It's beautiful,” she whispered. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Kairi stepped out of the strange doorway, trying to piece her
rlm@0: thoughts together. She'd just been on the Destiny Islands beach
rlm@0: again. But she'd been there at the point in time when her journey had
rlm@0: begun. But which one had she been? The one lying on the beach with
rlm@0: the Keyblade in her heart? Or the one who had taken the Keyblade to
rlm@0: start her journey? Both, it seemed. She could remember her entire
rlm@0: journey. So now she had reached it's end. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: It had led her full circle. She was back in her room. Shooting stars
rlm@0: flew past her window. Her plushies sat in a comfortable pile on her
rlm@0: bed. Turning in a slow circle, she took in her room again. All of her
rlm@0: video games she had played countless times, sharing in the adventures
rlm@0: of heroes and villians. Her pictures of the Destiny Islands lined the
rlm@0: walls. Costumes were probably hanging in her closet. And yet, this
rlm@0: wasn't home. She could feel it. “This is Kingdom Hearts.” And she
rlm@0: knew it was. Like Harle had said, her journey through the End of the
rlm@0: World had been different from Sora's. And much like their journey had
rlm@0: been different, so was their version of Kingdom Hearts. Kairi's was
rlm@0: the one doorway that had remained locked for her this whole time.
rlm@0: She'd been so close to Kingdom Hearts everytime she'd revisited this
rlm@0: room. The princess turned her attention to the locked door in her
rlm@0: room. She swallowed. She was finally here. Through chaos and tragedy
rlm@0: she had come, but she had made her way there all the same. This time
rlm@0: the locks on Kingdom Hearts were gone. She could unlock the doorway
rlm@0: and see Riku. But then what? What would become of Riku? He was dead
rlm@0: and was only clinging to this world to see her one last time. And
rlm@0: what of her? She was dying as well, her mother begging her to go back
rlm@0: to another world. She didn't know. But she couldn't stop now. “Riku?”
rlm@0: Kairi asked, walking to the doorway. “Kairi!” Riku's voice filtered
rlm@0: through the door. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The brunette could hear him hurry to the other side of the door,
rlm@0: placing his hand on it. She placed her own hand where she imagined
rlm@0: his to be. “I'm here, Riku. I'm finally here. To set you free.” She
rlm@0: licked her dry lips, closing her eyes.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “I always believed in you, Kairi. I knew I'd see you again.” Riku
rlm@0: rested his head against the door, smiling faintly. No matter what had
rlm@0: gotten in her way, Kairi had triumphed. She had made her way to
rlm@0: Kingdom Hearts. To him. He knew she was strong. Now he knew just how
rlm@0: strong.  
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Riku...” Kairi whispered. There was so much she needed to tell him.
rlm@0: But not through a door. Not anymore. She had finally reached him. Her
rlm@0: journey had come to a close. She had reached her treasure. Stepping
rlm@0: back, she pulled up the Keyblade. At that very same moment, Sora was
rlm@0: unlocking the door as well. Kairi could feel him almost as if he were
rlm@0: there with her. She smiled. They were all together again. Together,
rlm@0: she and Sora unlocked the Doorway to the light. Slowly, ever so
rlm@0: slowly, the locked door in Kairi's room opened, light shining forth
rlm@0: behind it. The light blinded Kairi for a moment. When she could focus
rlm@0: again, the door had regained it's splendor. It was no longer the door
rlm@0: in her room, but the gigantic double doors of Kingdom Hearts. Her
rlm@0: heart soared as she saw Riku's silouhette in the light. “Riku!” And
rlm@0: someone else was beside her. She wasn't alone anymore. Turning to the
rlm@0: side, she saw Sora, holding out his Keyblade just as she was holding
rlm@0: out hers. “Sora!” They were together again. All three of them. The
rlm@0: light spilled over her, warming her. She laughed. It was over. They
rlm@0: were all together again. This is what she had wanted, what she had
rlm@0: always dreamed of. “Kairi?” Sora looked over, astonished to see Kairi
rlm@0: opening the door with him. She was wearing her old outfit from the
rlm@0: Destiny Islands rather than her black princess's dress. And she
rlm@0: seemed so surprised to see him. His eyes slowly went behind Kairi.
rlm@0: Hikari grinned, standing behind Kairi like a shadow. Sephiroth stood
rlm@0: watch further behind them. And then, all hell broke loose. The Light
rlm@0: began to dim. Shadows began growing in intensity, growing larger and
rlm@0: more menacing. The shadows shot into the Doorway, going deep into the
rlm@0: core of the Light, into the very heart of the universe. The light
rlm@0: grew dimmer. Bigger, monstrous shadows grew in the Doorway to the
rlm@0: Light, obscuring out the light. “No!!!” Sora yelled, loss and
rlm@0: frustration robbing him of the joy he'd held just seconds earlier.
rlm@0: “Damn it! Kingdom Hearts is Light!!” But it was too late. The shadows
rlm@0: kept growing. The Heartless were poisoning the Light of the universe
rlm@0: at the heart of the Galaxy. Kairi could only stare. She had come to
rlm@0: end the Heartless. She had come to save everyone. But that was gone
rlm@0: now. Soon, everything would be. “No...” she whispered, broken.
rlm@0: “No...” Shaking her head, the princess tried to understand. “But...
rlm@0: The Light...”“Beware, Kairi,” her voice came from behind. “The closer
rlm@0: you get to the Light, the greater your shadow becomes.” Kairi slowly
rlm@0: turned to face herself, Princess Hikari grinning in her black dress.
rlm@0: “Who are you?” “I'm your shadow,” Princess Hikari explained. “The
rlm@0: Doorway to the Darkness is shut. The Heartless are dying out because
rlm@0: of that. But you had to come and stop them. You unleashed the Light.
rlm@0: Which would have killed the Heartless. If not for one tiny detail.
rlm@0: You're my light. So I'm the darkness. With you directly in the Light,
rlm@0: I'm more powerful than I could ever be in the darkness. Thanks to
rlm@0: you, I've resurrected the dying Heartless. They'll consume the Heart
rlm@0: of the Universe and start anew. We'll make the Doorway to the Light
rlm@0: into a new Doorway to the Darkness.”“Hikari!!” Sora cried out,
rlm@0: betrayed. How could she have done this? How could she have sacrificed
rlm@0: everything to the darkness? Hikari shook her head a little sadly.
rlm@0: “Thank you, Sora. For everything. I know why Kairi loves you. She
rlm@0: loves you because I loved you. Just like Riku. That's why she was
rlm@0: willing to suffer so much to get him back.” She looked into his eyes,
rlm@0: her own torn with pain and torment. “I'm glad I got to spend this
rlm@0: last bit of time together. It's bittersweet, but I think that makes
rlm@0: it an even better note to go out on. I got to see one of the things
rlm@0: that meant the most to me.” She looked back towards the darkening
rlm@0: Doorway to the Light. “But now it's time for the dream to end. From
rlm@0: Darkness we all come, and to darkness we will return.”Kairi shook her
rlm@0: head, her heart feeling as if it were being shred to pieces. All of
rlm@0: her work for nothing. Everyone would be consumed by the Heartless.
rlm@0: She couldn't save anyone after all. “Who are you? You can't do this.
rlm@0: You can't! I was going to save everything!” Hikari shook her head
rlm@0: sadly. “You don't get it, do you? I'm two people. Just like you. I'm
rlm@0: Princess Hikari, daughter of Ansem, the ruler of Hollow Bastion. When
rlm@0: my father was overcome by the Heartless, I followed him. I was
rlm@0: worried about him and I knew his research was driving him mad. My
rlm@0: personal guard, Sephiroth, came with me. We reached the Doorway to
rlm@0: the Darkness where my father had become one of them. I joined soon
rlm@0: after. But I realized there was a problem with my father. We all have
rlm@0: darkness in our heart. But we also have light. He didn't understand
rlm@0: that. So when I gave myself to the Heartless, I got rid of the light
rlm@0: in my heart. That was you, Kairi. I sent away the light in my heart
rlm@0: to find the Keyblade Master so I could keep track of him, whoever he
rlm@0: may be and to keep you away so that there would be no chance of the
rlm@0: light ruining me as it did my father.” 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Clenching her fists, she grew bitter. “And then there's another me.
rlm@0: A me who grew up with only her mother. A lonely girl who never quite
rlm@0: fit in. Who was always teased and a bit away from everyone. Like I
rlm@0: never really belonged in that world. So I spent all my time in
rlm@0: fantasy worlds, watching movies and playing video games. And I spent
rlm@0: a lot of time in one fantasy world in particular. On an island where
rlm@0: I had lots of friends and I was beautiful and two boys adored me.
rlm@0: Sound familiar, Kairi?” Kairi felt the Keyblade drop from her hands.
rlm@0: This... This was wrong... “Don't.... Please...” She knew about the
rlm@0: two realities, but now this girl... “But it was only a fantasy. I
rlm@0: could never really be on that island. I could never really be
rlm@0: beautiful with lots of friends and the boys I loved.” Hikari laughed,
rlm@0: an anguished sound. “I couldn't be with the boys I loved because they
rlm@0: were only make believe. My real life was pointless and my fantasy
rlm@0: life was just that, a fantasy. So I finally decided I wanted neither.
rlm@0: So one night, I took my mother's shears and I slit my wrists so I
rlm@0: could finally escape the pain and the longing for that which I'd
rlm@0: never have.”Kairi held her head, trying to force it all away. “Then
rlm@0: why are you doing this? Why can't you live here with them? Why can't
rlm@0: you stay with mom? Why... Why?”Hikari glared at Kairi. “You are
rlm@0: pathetic. No wonder I got rid of you. You always did make me
rlm@0: indecisive. I was always so wishy washy when I had you inside of me.
rlm@0: I won't live in a fantasy world. What's the point if none of it is
rlm@0: real? And I won't live in a real life that's nothing but tears and
rlm@0: pain. I'm going to die. And I'm going to tear down this fantasy world
rlm@0: with me. I'm finally going to get my rest. I am the queen of the
rlm@0: Heartless now, Kairi. I've set loose the horrors of the real world
rlm@0: here and I'm going to use them to tear it apart. It's all just a
rlm@0: lie.” She shook her head. “But you still don't understand. Kairi, I'm
rlm@0: the real Hikari. I'm both Princess Hikari and Hikari in the real
rlm@0: world. You're just a part of me. A sliver. And illusion. You're the
rlm@0: small light in my heart that I sent away. You aren't real. Just as
rlm@0: light is only an illusion, so are you.” Hikari reached forward,
rlm@0: placing her hand over Kairi's heart. All of a sudden, Kairi couldn't
rlm@0: breath. She gasped panfully, her body blurring and disipating. She
rlm@0: shook, but couldn't move as Hikari went about dispelling the illusion
rlm@0: that she was. It couldn't be... No... She could feel herself fading
rlm@0: quickly. Riku... Sora... She had only wanted to be with them, to save
rlm@0: them. Her mother... Soon it would all be gone. Just like her. Arms
rlm@0: wrapped around Kairi tightly, trying to force her back into being.
rlm@0: “Kairi, you have to fight it,” Riku told her, holding on as tightly
rlm@0: as he could. “You have to believe. I know it's hard. But hold on.
rlm@0: Please.” Hikari frowned as the dead boy tried to bolster her other
rlm@0: self. It didn't matter. She was growing in power as the seconds
rlm@0: ticked by, as the darkness grew. Within just a few moments, she'd be
rlm@0: strong enough to dispell Kairi offhand. A swift blow knocked her hand
rlm@0: away from Kairi. “Stay away from her!” Sora practically growled,
rlm@0: holding the Keyblade towards her. Pain erupted in Hikari's heart
rlm@0: again. Even the boys she loved were turning against her. Even if they
rlm@0: were only figments of her imagination, it still hurt unbearably.
rlm@0: “Sora...” Sephiroth gripped his sword. Remembering his earlier battle
rlm@0: with Sora, this would be rather simple. The boy didn't even have back
rlm@0: up this time. Pulling up the Masamune, the SOLDIER started towards
rlm@0: the boy.“Don't, Sephiroth.” The cloaked boy watched Sephiroth through
rlm@0: his blindfold. “King Ansem. How nice of you to join us,” Sephiroth
rlm@0: bowed. Smiling faintly, he nodded towards Hikari. “I'm sorry to
rlm@0: inform you, but I am Princess Hikari's royal guard. My loyaltly lies
rlm@0: to her and her alone.”“Don't try and stop me, father. I'm ending this
rlm@0: tonight. Everything will die,” Hikari said, not deigning her father
rlm@0: worth a glance. Her pained eyes remained fixed on Sora. She'd known
rlm@0: that he wouldn't follow her plan, but it hurt nonetheless. But he was
rlm@0: only a dream, she told herself. That helped fill her resolve. It
rlm@0: would all be over soon enough.Kairi leaned heavily against Sora,
rlm@0: Riku's ghostly arms still around her. “Ansem?” So Ansem had survived.
rlm@0: No wonder he looked so much like Riku. He was still in Riku's body.
rlm@0: Then... That was her father.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Don't do this, Hikari. I let my curiosity overwhelm me. I let the
rlm@0: Heartless consume me. Don't let them do the same to you. There is
rlm@0: light in our hearts. Darkness isn't the only thing our hearts are
rlm@0: born from,” Ansem pleaded.Hikari laughed. “I know that, father.
rlm@0: That's why I sent my light far, far away. The Light gave me the power
rlm@0: to destroy it all. Darkness is reality. Light is dreams. It's fragile
rlm@0: and full of lies. So I'll put an end to all of it.” Raising her hand,
rlm@0: the darkness in the Doorway to the Light pulsed. Shadows spilled out,
rlm@0: engulfing all. In moments, there was nothing but darkness.
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: Harle and Aya watched as Darkness began spilling out, Heartless
rlm@0: growing everywhere. The Darkness was overtaking all in it's path. It
rlm@0: was enough to wash over all the universe. Harle shook her head.
rlm@0: “Surely she has damned us all.”~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: She sailed about in a sea of darkness. It was everywhere, and yet it
rlm@0: felt like nowhere at all. It imprisoned her in it's painfilled
rlm@0: memories of the past, lacing her with cold wracking sobs and blazing
rlm@0: hot desperation. She had failed. Because of her, everything had
rlm@0: ceased to be. Now there was only darkness. No dreams. No love. No
rlm@0: Light. And this is all it would ever be. Because of her. 'Even in
rlm@0: darkness... There will always be light...' Her grandmother had told
rlm@0: her that, hadn't she? No, it was her mother. She had come home
rlm@0: crying. Her mother had come in and smoothed down her hair and had
rlm@0: told her that. 'Just... take my hand...'
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: But what could she do? It was too late. It was all over. If she
rlm@0: hadn't been blinded, if she hadn't been so stupid, maybe she wouldn't
rlm@0: have forfeited everything.'Kairi, please...'So she could only float
rlm@0: in the darkness, curled up into a ball, broken and lonely. Always so
rlm@0: lonely. It wasn't so different from hiding in the bathroom at school
rlm@0: crying, was it?'Kairi... reach out... take my hand...'
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: But... But there was light, wasn't there? Even in the very deepest
rlm@0: darkness. Because... without light, there could be no such thing as
rlm@0: darkness. And without darkness, there could be no light. Kairi
rlm@0: reached out for Riku's hand. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Kairi...” Riku knelt near her, watching the weary girl slowly push
rlm@0: herself up. “Are you okay?”“Riku!” Kairi tried to hug him, but he
rlm@0: shook his head. He was only a spirit. Ansem had his body. She
rlm@0: couldn't hold him. She placed her hands on her knees in an attempt to
rlm@0: keep from trying to touch him. She nodded slowly. “I'm... I'm okay.” 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Good.” Riku smiled softly. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Where's Sora? And Ansem? And...” Kairi looked away. Hikari was her,
rlm@0: wasn't she? So this really was her fault.Riku shook his head. “I
rlm@0: don't know. I followed you into the darkness. You managed to fight it
rlm@0: off. I think Hikari and Sephiroth went into the Doorway to the Light.
rlm@0: I don't know where the others went.” 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “Thanks, Riku.” Kairi slowly looked back up at him. The silver
rlm@0: haired boy gazed back into her eyes with his dazzling aquamarine
rlm@0: gems. The princess smiled weakly. “I missed you so much.”“I missed
rlm@0: you, too, Kairi. I wanted to see you one last time. I'm glad I got
rlm@0: to.” Now that Riku could see Kairi, he could at last pass on. As long
rlm@0: as he knew she was all right. 
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: “No!!” Kairi blinked back tearfully. “I need you! This isn't the
rlm@0: last time! You're coming with me,” she demanded.“You don't need me,
rlm@0: Kairi. You made your way here without my help. You're stronger than
rlm@0: you know.” Riku smiled, placing his hand over her cheek. He wished he
rlm@0: could feel it. Just one last time. “Maybe I should ask you to take
rlm@0: care of Sora for me instead of the other way around.”“I do need you!”
rlm@0: Kairi insisted. “I never would have gotten here without you. You were
rlm@0: with me every step of the way.” Tears spilled freely down her cheeks.
rlm@0: “I don't want to be without you, Riku. I love you. Don't go.”
rlm@0: 
rlm@0: The last part nearly broke Riku's resolve. She loved him? How could
rlm@0: he leave her? But he didn't have a choice. But... at least he knew
rlm@0: that. He'd be able to hold that with him when he passed on to the
rlm@0: other side. “Kairi, I love you, too. I always have. I'd stay with you
rlm@0: always if I could. Always and forever.”Kairi finally noticed the dark
rlm@0: haired girl behind Riku. The girl who had called herself Sophie.
rlm@0: Death incarnate. She had come to collect Riku. “No...” She looked up
rlm@0: pleadingly, but the angel of death shook her head simply. This was
rlm@0: her job. “Riku...” Tears blurred her vision as she watched him stand
rlm@0: up. “I won't let you go. I won't!” She pushed herself to her feet,
rlm@0: reaching out for him. “Just...” She licked her broken lips, trying to
rlm@0: see him through her tears. “Just take my hand. And it will be all...”
rlm@0: Her voice broke, her throat painful now. “And it'll be all right.
rlm@0: Just take my hand...” She held it out, her hand shaking. “Because...
rlm@0: Because we'll always be together. Always. I believe that Riku.
rlm@0: Please, please believe in that with me. Always....” Sophie placed her
rlm@0: hand on Riku's shoulder. He looked back at the angel of death and
rlm@0: then to Kairi. He was dead. Sophie was going to take him away. But
rlm@0: Kairi wouldn't let go. She had a terribly strong will. “I told you
rlm@0: that you're stronger than you know.” Riku smiled at Kairi, taking her
rlm@0: hand. In a flash of light he was gone. Kairi closed her eyes, placing
rlm@0: her hands over her heart. Riku was gone, and yet, she didn't feel
rlm@0: alone. She felt... She felt as if he were close by. With her.
rlm@0: 'Because you aren't alone,' his voice said in her head. “Riku!”
rlm@0: Kairi's eyes lit up as she opened them.Riku's heart... When her heart
rlm@0: had been separated from her body, she had ended up in Sora's body.
rlm@0: Now Riku was without a body, but she had taken him into her own. He
rlm@0: hadn't left. She let out a deep breath, relieved. Sophie turned away
rlm@0: from her, walking back into the darkness. “You're running out of
rlm@0: time. Hurry. I have to collect you next, you know.” With that, Death
rlm@0: herself was gone.Kairi nodded. “Let's go, Riku. To end this.”
rlm@0: