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limitlessgojo · 3 years ago

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Blood Bound: Red Strings of Fate (Ch 13)

Warnings: Action, Coarse Language, Fighting, Descriptions of Blood

Previous Chapter: Goldenrod

Next Chapter: The More You Know

Next SFW Chapter: Big White Lies

Tags: Soulmates AU, Angst, Fluff, Hurt/Comfort, Fem!Reader

Taglist: @lessie-oxj @rizzo-nero @whoreuc @fkngkumiko @isl3t @gojoussunglasses @onepotatostand-blog @s-t-f-u-b-i-t-c-h @sunaswife @lordguameow @track5enthusiast

Notes: If you want to be tagged for every update, specify if you're okay with nsfw posts or not, and please mention it in the comments below ty ❤

Chapter 13: Home Sweet Home

That weekend you went back home. It was so refreshing to see everyone. You yelped out with joy as you ran over to your cousin “Hiroki niichaaaan~” You jumped into his arms.

He hugged you tight. “How have you been doin lil sis?”

“Very good! I missed you all so much, especially you Hiroki nii." You pouted up at him.

You caught up with your family, had meals with them, and trained with Hiroki. They were most curious about your soulmate, as you have expected.

“What’s he like? Aren’t people from the big 3 clans so stuck up all the time? Even Satoru is full of himself at times, ey?”, Hiroki asked you with a mouthful of food.

“He isn’t too bad to be honest. He’s a gentleman and sweet with me. Decent man. Just, seems a bit like the private type? I mean… Doesn’t talk much about his family even though we are soulmates. Oh I’ve already talked to him about you guys.” You added.

Hiroki tilted his head, “Ehhh… mysterious huh.”

“Give him time. The Kamo Clan aren’t the most open minded people. They’ll feel you out before allowing you in.” Your dad said.

“Even though I’m his soulmate?!” You exclaimed.

Silence. “We don’t know what they’re thinking so we can’t say for sure.”

◇◇◇

“Heh, you’ve gotten better lil sis,” Hiroki dropped low and thrusted out his spear. You jumped and immediately shifted your stance to land a kick on him. He easily parried and slipped out of your range.

Your family specializes in dealing with reverse cursed techniques aside from the occasional esper. Hiroki was only a semi-grade 1, because he trained his ass off for years.

Now that he’s built, he uses cursed tools to help him fight. A strong 185cm man can definitely handle close combat well. And in terms of healing abilities, he was number 1 in the clan.

It was only the women in your family that were able to inherit psychokinesis for some reason. But usually it only applies to a specific thing. Like how your mom can control plants. And your other aunt does with small metallic items like coins and darts.

Mother approached you after your sparring session. "Does he make you happy my dear?" Your mother asked you. Hiroki drank quietly from his water bottle.

You thought about it. The past few months were not easy but really colorful with Noritoshi. Minus the nagging feeling of him covering up his family affairs from you.

But… "He does. I feel so safe with him ma. Like I do with all of you. He is family to me now. I think I really like him and I trust him with my life." You whispered out.

"Then next time, bring him here. We will gladly welcome him with open arms." Hiroki smiled at you and leaned into your side.

◇◇◇

You went to visit your dead older sister’s grave just before you went back to Kyoto Jujutsu High School.

It was just you and Hiroki. You both cleaned the grave, trimmed the weeds, changed the flowers, burned fresh incense, and said your prayers for Sora. It was such a clear day with barely any clouds. The sky was so blue.

Just like her namesake.

Hiroki left you to give you some privacy, saying that he’ll pick you up in 2 hours.

You took a deep breath. “Sora neechan. It’s been a while. Sorry I couldn’t come to see you as often, because I’m currently a student at Jujutsu High.”

“I met this guy. He … So he is my soulmate. The first time I met him, I thought he was pretty. As I got to know him more, I felt as if there was a reason as to why the heavens chose him for me you know? He is really cool, but so warm and sweet with me. I think I’m a little bit in love with him.” You admitted.

“I’m really scared to lose him. After I lost you, I just… it was hard… I try my best to be cheerful and helpful really. But it gets tiring at times. I’m glad I was able to make a lot of friends who understand the life of a Jujutsu sorcerer at least. I tried to open up to Noritoshi a bit more. But it’s hard because he seems so closed off at times.”

You had mixed feelings, because you promised Noritoshi you would trust him more. That means working on anything that bothers you regarding your relationship with him. But can he accept it if you tell him that you want to know more about his family? He already clearly stated he needs more time.

“Am I being too greedy and hasty Sora? I want to support his clan affairs, even if it's just a tiny bit as his soulmate. He seems so troubled with it all the time. Like he wants to carry the burden all alone. I want to help, but he doesn’t really let me. I don’t know. I wish you were still here with me.”

“Last time I asked him about his parents, he snapped at me. Of course he apologized. … Maybe it’s all just in my head. But I do want to meet his family. Eventually. Though at this rate I have no idea when. Everytime I ask about them he just shuts up.”

“Falling in love is way too hard….”

The wind blew as if to agree with you. The leaves rusted in a circular dance just around the grave. You smiled.

You bid farewell to your family after the weekend. Hiroki hugged you tight and whispered, “I hope it gets better for you and Kamo kun soon enough.”

You looked up at him, “Yeah, thanks bro.”

◇◇◇

You texted Noritoshi and let him know that you were on your way back. He said he was free for the evening and that you could come over to his room.

You knocked on his door with anticipation. You opened the door, “I'm back, Toshi!” He pulled you into a tight hug and closed the door behind you. “I missed you. Come in. How was your family? Sorry I couldn’t go with you again.”

“It’s fine! They’re all okay and excited to meet you next time.” You looked up at him. He looked a bit regretful, “Next time I’ll make sure to properly clear my schedule with my father so I can go meet them okay?”

“Ah, okay.” You both walked over to his table and knelt down on the floor.

“I’ve been wanting to tell you this for a while,” you started. Noritoshi looked on intently. “I’ve already told you about my family right? Mom and dad and my other male cousins. Ah, what I didn’t tell you before was… I used to have an older sister. I - uhm. Well she died after being attacked by a curse. I … I hope to bring you to her grave one day.”

Noritoshi’s heart dropped. He pulled you in close. “I’m so sorry to hear that. I’m sure she is proud of you. Of course I’ll go with you to see her next time.” He was now highly regretting choosing to do some useless tasks for some of his clan’s elders instead of spending the weekend with you.

You gripped his clothes tighter. “Thank you, that really really means a lot to me.” You started tearing up, but you blinked your tears away.

"Oh! My family and I have gifts for you. I'm not so sure if you'll like it. It's a Coral and gold bracelet. Everyone in my family has one. It's almost like tradition for us, and we believe it to have a layer of protection. I also brought Jade here for you." You presented the bracelet alongside the Dragon carved Jade Pendant hanging on a thick white gold chain.

Noritoshi's eyes widened. The jewelry was stunning and looked expensive. He may have been favoured as the heir to the Kamo clan, but even he didn't own so much expensive jewelry.

He sputtered out “I appreciate it but I can’t take something so expensive and precious-”

“Noritoshiiii,” you whined out loud, making him stop talking. “You don’t want to accept such a precious gift that I picked out for you?” you whined with the largest puppy eyes.

“No, I- I am grateful. Thank you, I’ll accept it.” Noritoshi conceded.

Got him. You grinned madly as he shook his head. “You’re a dangerous one,” he muttered under his breath. “What was that?” you asked him absentmindedly as you worked on unclasping the bracelet to put it around his wrist. “Nothing, nothing at all dearest.”

You narrowed your eyes at him before grabbing his wrist and putting it on for him. It was a perfect fit. You thanked yourself for loving to hold his hand so much that you knew his general hand measurements.

His hands down to his wrists were so pretty. You didn't realize that you were playing with and smiling down at his fingers until he opened up his hand and linked his fingers with yours.

Slowly, carefully. Falling in love with you was the easiest thing Noritoshi had experienced. Now that he had embraced his emotions and tried to open up to you, it was a bit better now.

'Is this what love is? I don't know since it's my first time experiencing it.' Noritoshi wondered to himself.

It was in the smallest of things with you. He loved the way you would call out his name with loving eyes. The way you would always greet him first before the other senpai. The way you give him coffee and kisses on late and cold nights of studying.

The way your hair smells. Your perfume. The way your eyelids flutter shut when he kisses you. The tightening of his chest and shortness of his breath made apparent whenever he was with you.

The way you don't ask for too much from him. Just that he shows his love to you either by his actions or words. The comfort he simply feels when he is beside you.

He really just needed some time, and seeing you around more often really made up for it.

He ticked the inside of your palm which made you shiver and yelp. He laughed out loud at this and pulled you into his lap, hugging you tightly.

Staying quiet, you buried your head in his chest. You could feel his heartbeat, and it was faster than you expected. But soon it went back down to a steady rate.

"Your heartbeat is so steady, but mine is always wild around you. Noritoshi I feel kinda embarrassed to be honest." You admitted, fingers curling into his kimono.

He smiled and his heartbeat quickened to match yours. You looked up at him in confusion. "Did you just…" He just leaned down to rub his nose against yours. "I am a blood manipulator. I can manipulate my pulse rate darling." You huffed out a laugh, feeling warm and fuzzy.

"I love you." You said suddenly. He stared in shock at your words. You realized that you said it without intending to. But you didn’t take it back.

"Kamo Noritoshi I'm madly in love with you." It wasn't a sudden realisation of being in love. You slowly fell for him again and again each day.

Noritoshi’s brain short circuited.

Suddenly he was kissing you. Tongue slipping into your mouth and playing with yours and rubbing along the roof of your mouth.

You tried to fight his tongue for dominance, but you ended up surrendering, your back bent back with your face turned up towards him.

You clasped your hands around his neck as he pressed deep kisses against the top of your chest. Your face was flushed as you fell limp against him, gasping out heavy breaths. "I'm not going anywhere angel." Noritoshi whispered against your neck, hands tightening possessively against your waist.

‘Please wait a little longer for me. Until I can confirm that these feelings for you are indeed true love.’ His thoughts went unsaid.

The one thing Noritoshi promised to himself is that he would never lie about his feelings for you. To him, the worst he could do was to confess his love without actually being in love with you.

Blood Bound: Table of Contents

#kamo noritoshi #jjk x reader #jujutsu kaisen #jujutsu kaisen headcanons #itadori yuji #jjk fanfic #fluff #jjk x y/n #jjk x oc #jjk fluff #jjk x you #jjk fic #noritoshi fluff #blood bound #red strings of fate

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oveliagirlhaditright · 3 years ago

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After the Game, Fret somewhat didn't like when someone other than canon had red hair and wore purple. Canon compliant. Oneshot. Neo spoilers. KH DDD is canon to TWEWY in this fic. Though you shouldn’t at all have to really know KH to understand this fic.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/33469456

For the most part… Fret got on pretty well after Kanon’s death.

It was tough, it really was, but he soldiered on by becoming the more authentic version of himself she had wanted him to be… hoping that that would be enough. And that if her soul did somehow exist somewhere, she might see that and be able to find some happiness there.

And Fret had the Twisters, of course—and Neku’s old friends Shiki, Eri, and Rhyme (who was also Beat’s sister, of course), who had really integrated themselves into the group. There was also sometimes the aloof Joshua—who helped Fret keep his head where it belonged.

That, and all the school work he had to do now, as thoughts about college and careers were coming up, and he needed to try and focus on that, lest he be forgotten.

So, for the most part, while Fret still of course mourned Kanon, he had moved on and was in pretty good spirits, considering.

…The only thing that really got him down, oddly… was seeing redheads like she had been also wearing purple. And at first, meeting the legendary Neku right after Fret had lost the girl of his dreams had somewhat been a thorn in Fret’s side, because he’d just looked at Neku’s hair and the color he so clearly favored and thought “Kanon.”

But, thankfully, those feelings hadn’t lasted. They’d had Shibuya to save, after all. And Neku more than proved why he was great to have on a team and why he was the greatest friend, and why Fret should try and let his ghosts go.

But then, Fret had met Shiki’s best friend “Eri”… who was totally cool, by the way, and a co-creator of Gatto Nero with Shiki, and Fret couldn’t even begin to tell you how much he admired her. Especially since she was so pretty and on point… but not conceded at all, and down to earth.

As fate would have it, however, she’d been wearing purple the moment Fret had met her at Shiki’s birthday party. So, they hadn’t started out well, even though it had of course gotten better, and Fret had almost come undone (as ridiculous as it was for him to still be so hung-up on Kanon, he knew).

Thankfully, Shiki had right away seen his shaking form by the punch table and had come and given him a hug, as she’d whispered sweet nothings into his ear. She had guessed accurately what Fret’s problem was, and held him—not even seeming to feel like he was ruining her party at all—while she rubbed his back soothingly. “It’s okay not to get over a loved one quickly, you know? I was certainly that way about Neku. And you have it so much harder than I did. No one will judge you for your emotions, Fret. And if you need to talk, we’re all here for you. I’ll even go get Mr. Mew for you to hold, as he always cheers me right up.” Shiki had said that last part while winking at him, and Fret had had to laugh then.

He may have been afraid of Mr. Mew when Tsugumi had been controlling him and attacking them with the doll, but now that Fret had seen Shiki with her own one more often than not, Fret was thinking he was a sweet little guy again, and could definitely understand why Shiki would think he was good therapy.

“…And I may mention to Eri that it might be a good idea for her not to wear violet anymore.”

“What? You don’t have to do that? I got used to Neku, so I can with her, too!” Fret had wanted to tell her instantly, but Shiki had already been off to get Mr. Mew for him to cuddle.

And despite everything, Fret had watched Shiki walk across the dance hall with a smile on his face. It felt good to be appreciated. It did.

And after that, Eri did stop wearing that color, and everyone seemed to prefer it that way. Fret did, for his own reason, of course… Eri did, because she didn’t even like it that much, apparently, and Neku appreciated it, who jokingly thanked Eri for getting off his turf.

So, everything was more than good for Fret when it came to those colors for a while… but then some girl named Kairi came to Shibuya: a girl with darker red hair than Kanon, it was true, but wouldn’t you know that she was also wearing amethyst?

At first, Fret had been ready to write this stranger off—just another tourist in Shibuya, that he just happened to notice walking past him—but then she accidentally ran into Beat… and it seemed to startle the girl. And good Lord, then she summoned a magic key-shaped sword to her hands, without even seeming to think about it. And she wasn’t even in the UG! (Though when Fret saw this, his first concern was that they had landed back there.)

And the moment Neku and Beat (who were with Fret to go to Molco, to get him some Tin Pins, because that was becoming a thing again) saw the redhead summon the weapon, they had both exclaimed simultaneously, “You’re a Keyblade wielder!” “Yous a Key wielder!”

Fret had had no idea what they were talking about at that point. So, Neku had hastily explained that Shibuya had actually been destroyed before—a time that he, Shiki, Beat, and Rhyme had only recently gotten their memories back of—and when it had, Joshua had taken their dream fragments (the only thing that had been left of them) to another world, to try and bring them back. And there, they’d taken bodily form once again and met a “Keyblade wielder” named “Sora”, and another one named “Riku,”

Beat had then gone to explain that they’d both helped them out, and that they were probably even bigger deals than him and Neku, and Fret couldn’t believe it. Hell! He could hardly even fathom it. What would that even look like? But he didn’t have much time to try and guess, because Neku began talking to the stranger almost instantly.

“Are you Sora’s girlfriend?” Neku had asked her then, bold as you please, as he’d pulled the redhead back out of the way of pedestrians going to and fro from all the different shopping areas. “He told me that he was great friends with a redhead, who liked art like Shiki does… I think he was insinuating then that I liked Shiki back then, and I wanted to kill him for all the hints he dropped her, while maybe not realizing that he had feelings for you yet, but I think it was still there… If you are that girl he mentioned, I mean.”

And then the poor girl had had a single tear slide down her eye—and Fret almost wanted to kick himself for only being able to think “you’re not Kanon, you’re not Kanon, you’re not Kanon, you’re not Kanon. Why are you dressed like her?”, while he looked at her—and she explained to Beat, who was giving her a big old bear hug, but Neku too, that: “Yeah, I’m Sora’s girlfriend, Kairi… I’m looking for him, because he recently disappeared after he sacrificed himself to bring me back to life. I was thinking he might be here, or that there might be Heartless here that I needed to fight, but I don’t know.”

Neku had appeared to give much thought to all of that (crossing his arms over his chest and closing his eyes, Fret saw), before he finally met Kairi’s eyes with kind ones of his own. “Why don’t you come with me to meet Shiki? She’s another friend of Sora’s. And Keyblade wielders’ hearts can sometimes lead them to keys, right? Maybe there’s something there, if Sora used to tease me about us.”

And Kairi had gone with Neku and Beat to do that (while Fret had followed, aimlessly, feeling really curious, for sure, but also kind of despairing the whole way: he wasn’t going to lie). And then Kairi had found with Shiki’s help, the thing she needed that would help her lead to Sora, apparently.

It was a hockey puck, that Shiki said Neku had gotten her to help them remember old times together… And as soon as Kairi had come near it, her Keyblade had reacted—seeming almost to float over to the puck of its own free will, tugging Kairi along—and then an insanely crazy light show happened (where all of a sudden, the entire world around them had seemed to be nothing but darkness, with just a few pieces of light to speak of: coming from Kairi and the Keyhole that appeared in the sky, that she did acrobatics towards, in order to aim a laser from her Keyblade at it). Then, it was all over and the Buya returned to normal, but the girl was gone.

And Neku and Beat explained that that seemed to sometimes happen with Keyblade wielders—they’d both seen it with Sora and Riku—as they would sometimes get taken away to where they were meant to go next, before they really got to say goodbye. But they both assumed she was fine and gotten what she needed, and definitely seemed to be hoping it, too.

But Neku, Beat, and Shiki had definitely bonded with Kairi that day… and about a year later, she was back in Shibuya to visit them with Sora and Riku… and well, maybe a whole lot of other people. There was yet another girl with red hair, wearing amethyst…

And while Fret was kind of glad to see them—and was thrilled that Kairi had gotten her happy ending and she could just come her for funsies to see everyone now—he couldn’t help sitting in a park bench in Dogenzaka, sighing, as he watched the whole thing unfold.

“Hehehe. You’re in quite the mood. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were turning into Neku…” Someone else had come to sit by Fret… and one quick look let him know that it was none other than the Composer of Shibuya himself… and that he had better get it together, before the guy threw him into another Game to improve himself, like he originally had with Neku.

“Oh, uhh… Hi there, Joshua. It’s good to see you,” Fret said, putting a hand under his chin and regarding the other boy—god—with mixed feelings. “Did you see that ice is really in this season? And diamonds almost match your light blue shirts, right? I feel like if you started wearing some diamond necklaces, you’d be even more stylish than you already ar-”

But Joshua halted Fret’s attempt to somewhat butter him up, with a hand held high and a small smile on his face. “There’s no need for all of that, I assure you,” Joshua promised, violet eyes locking onto Fret’s and that, too, making the youth think of Kanon some. “If you want her back, why don’t you just ask me?” Joshua asked rather smug now.

And it was too much. All too much. Fret wanted to believe that Joshua could actually bring her back for him… but what if this was a trap? And what if Joshua meant it now… but Fret somehow made him changed his mind, when he begged him to do so and thanked him for it. What if he didn’t do everything to code?

Tripping over his words now, as he ran a hand through his hair, Fret asked, “I mean… I would love it. If you want to, and don’t think it’ll hurt Kanon to be back, I’m all for it. But can you really do that? Wouldn’t you maybe get in trouble?”

At that Joshua “hmmed”, and Fret panicked—feeling like he’d ruined his chances for real here—and he was about to kiss the Composer’s feet to try and be on his good side again…

But it seemed like Fret had started fretting over nothing, as Joshua giggled and flipped his hair once. “I’ve brought Players who didn’t win back after a corrupt Game before, so it wouldn’t be the first time. Kanon’s Soul did seem quite promising to me for a few reasons there, so I’d be interested to see how she would shape Shibuya…

“And as of now… I would not get in trouble, dear Fret. But thank you for your concern. Heh. I am the senior of a lot of angels on the Higher Plane. And right now, the ones above me are actually very much interested me and my methods, for halting Shibuya’s purification twice, but having it turn out better both times for it. So, I imagine they’d let this one slide.”

Fret was near tears at that point; of course he was… And okay, maybe he was actually crying now. It was just that this was all he had ever dreamed of after they’d gotten out of the Game, of course… Because despite what he told himself… Fret did still love Kanon. And wouldn’t it be great, to actually get back one of the friends that Fret had lost?

But now Fret had to wonder, as he scratched his neck awkwardly, “All those gingers I saw in purple… was that a hint from you to me that I could get Kanon back?” Had Fret been looking a gift horse in the mouth all this time?

Joshua was laughing once more, as he urged Fret to get up and go make nice with the Keyblade wielders, who—if Fret was hearing it right—were telling all of Fret’s friends about urban legends they had heard of in a place called Twilight Town… and then Nagi chirped back about the ones they’d seen in the Game, and Rindo and Beat jumped in to help her out with that.

Huh… Perhaps Fret really was missing something over there. And was Joshua, too?

“Usually, I wouldn’t give an answer… I would say it’s above your pay grade, or that the world is whatever you want it to be… But, no. I was not prompting you to make this choice about Tachibana Kanon. Though things seemed to work out rather nicely for you, wouldn’t you say? So you’d find the strength to ask me about her?”

“I- I do,” Fret admitted, looking down at the pavement—and then all the buildings around him—and thinking that for a concrete jungle… Shibuya was actually a masterpiece, and might have actually been heaven, as far as he was concerned. “So, when will Kanon-"

But when Fret looked towards Joshua once more, the Composer was already gone.

And Fret… he didn’t see Kanon for a while after that. And he imagined it probably felt like what Rindo had gone through (and somewhat Fret himself; all the Twisters, really), when Josh had first brought Shokie to the RG.

About four months later, Fret was beginning to dread that Joshua had forgotten his promise, or that it was impossible to bring Kanon back, after all…

And he was at 104, checking out all the new selections there, when he heard a voice behind him, “So, Fret… do you mind telling me how you really feel? And no sugarcoating it! I was proud to see how you grew, after all. And you can’t disappoint a lady by covering it up some, if you went to all this trouble to bring her back, y’know?”

Fret dropped the black hat that he’d been about to purchase (that was maybe so light black, it was actually closer to purple), as he turned around to face that voice and ran towards her to embrace her.

“Kanon!"

Author’s Note: So, the other redhead who goes with Sora and the crew to Shibuya in this story is supposed to be Ariel—in a “The Worlds Are Starting to be Reconnected” idea—and it’s mainly because she wore purple seashells (though a shirt here, of course). Not even gonna lie. But if you don’t like that, you can imagine it’s an OC… that Sora and Kairi had a daughter… or just completely ignore that part. It’s up to you.

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maddrmatt · 4 years ago

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Kairi’s Epic Journey: The Quest for Sora

New to this fanfic? Click here to properly begin!

Chapter 20: To the North Mountain

Arendelle

A short while later, after getting herself dressed, Kairi paced back and forth around the room, racking her brain for any possible explanation for last night’s unexpected show. Pluto watched from his spot on the bed.

“I just can’t understand it, Pluto. How was I able to see one of Sora’s memories? I mean, I’ve had many dreams about him since he was lost. But none of them were about things that actually happened. Why am I having them now?” she asked.

Pluto just gave a shrug of his shoulders and a whimper to indicate he had no idea either. Kairi sighed and sat down on the bed next to him.

“Do you think maybe I was supposed to learn something from that memory? But if so, then what was it? When I returned to the Islands, Chirithy filled all of us in about what happened in that world when Sora was trying to save me. So, if there was nothing in that memory that I didn’t already know, then what was the point of even showing it to me?” asked Kairi holding her head in her hands.

Pluto whimpered and pawed at her shoulder. Kairi gave a small smile while she put her arm around her canine companion and stroked his back.

“I know you can’t possibly have the answers, Pluto. But thanks for listening anyway. It’s just not easy having so many unanswered questions while we’re on this quest. Between the Wayfinder, the woman in my dreams who gave it to me, and the Memento Card from Never Land, I just don’t think I can handle any more mysteries.”

‘It’s times like these I wish I could go to someone wiser than me like Master Yen Sid, Merlin or Ansem the Wise. But, besides the fact that I can’t get to their worlds from here, they’d probably just tell Riku and the others and then I’d be dragged back home to the Islands. I really am on my own here.’

Just then, there was a knock on the door followed by an elderly female voice who said, “Miss Kairi? The queen and the princess were wondering if you’ve awoken yet. They’re awaiting you in the dining hall for breakfast.”

“I have, Gerda. Please tell them I’ll be there soon,” responded Kairi.

“Of course,” said Gerda’s voice as the sound of her footsteps walking away were heard outside the door.

Kairi let out a large sigh. “Actually Pluto, watching that memory did get me thinking about something regarding Anna and Elsa. In fact, it’s actually something that’s been on my mind ever since we were preparing to face Xehanort.”

Pluto looked at her in confusion. But he gestured for her to continue.

Kairi rose to her feet and faced the dog. “In the memory, Sora mentioned that we fought against Xehanort and the Organization even though it was what he wanted to happen in order to keep them from going after Anna, Elsa and the other new Princesses of Heart. But I’ve been wondering for the longest time if we could’ve done a little more than that. Like maybe warning them about the danger they could be in. Or even gathering them all together and bringing them to somewhere they might be safe.”

Pluto gave a yelp of surprise in response. Kairi gestured for him to be quiet.

“I know. I know. If the others were here, they’d probably give me a big lecture about how those ideas would be a major violation of the world order. And yes, I admit I did say differently to you last night after Elsa left. But I can’t help it. It just doesn’t seem right to keep the other Princesses in the dark like this. There could be others like Maleficent and Xehanort out there and I hate to think of what might happen to the Princesses and their worlds if they come after them especially since they would have no idea why. Personally, after everything I’ve been through, I’d certainly want to know of any potential threats that might come after me regardless of the rules,” stated Kairi.

Kairi let out another sigh before she continued, “I don’t know, Pluto. If it were truly up to me, I’d tell Anna, Elsa and the rest of the new Princesses of Heart everything. And I’m sure if Sora was here, he’d probably agree with me. Do you think I’m wrong for wanting to do this?”

Pluto considered Kairi’s words. Ever since his master had taken up the Keyblade, he too knew how important preserving the world order was. But, at the same time, he had to concede that Kairi was making some good points. Unable to give a definite answer to his friend, he simply gave an uncertain shrug.

Suddenly, a loud roar rang through the room causing Kairi and Pluto to jump. It sounded as if it was coming from outside. Kairi rushed to the window and parted the curtains. She gasped in shock.

Her window looked out into the courtyard. And currently squeezing through the gates was a giant monster that looked like it was made of snow. It had claws made of ice and protrusions of ice coming out from its knees. Its face was composed of two empty holes for eyes and a large wide mouth that was the source of the roars.

“Pluto! There’s some kind of monster outside! It might be a Heartless after Anna and Elsa! We’ve got to fight it off!”

Quickly, she opened the window and climbed onto the sill. She quickly leapt to the ground with Pluto landing shortly beside her.

The snow monster had just finished pushing through the gates. It was now lumbering across the courtyard towards the doors. So far, it hadn’t noticed Kairi and Pluto

‘I may have failed with Sora. But I will not fail to keep Anna and Elsa safe!’ Kairi thought as she summoned her Keyblade and pointed it at a spot on the ground between the snow monster and the doors.

“Fire!” shouted Kairi as she shot a fireball from her Keyblade. It struck the ground right in front of the snow monster. It roared in fright.

Taking advantage, Kairi and Pluto charged in and stood in front of the doors. They struck defensive poses before the snow monster.

“Back off, you beast! If you’re looking to hurt Anna and Elsa, then you’re going to have to go through us first!” she yelled with Pluto barking in accompaniment.

The snow monster let out an enraged roar as it raised it’s claw in preparation to swipe it at Kairi and Pluto. The girl raised her Keyblade to meet the oncoming attack.

But just as the snow monster was about to attack, it stopped. Its empty eyes gazed at Kairi’s Keyblade. A look of what seemed to be recognition crossed its face.

“Sora?” it bellowed.

Kairi’s eyes opened wide in surprise upon hearing what the snow monster had just said. She lowered her Keyblade as she and Pluto both glanced up to the snow monster in confusion.

“What did you say?” asked Kairi.

“Kairi, if you wanted to play with Marshmallow, you could’ve waited until after breakfast. That way, we could all play together.”

Kairi looked behind her right to see Olaf walking toward them. Oddly, he didn’t seem too concerned that there was a giant monster in their presence.

As he walked past her, the snowman’s eyes fell on Kairi’s Keyblade and he gasped in surprise. “Oh! Sora has one of those too! Only not as flowery.”

Olaf walked up to the snow monster and hugged its leg. Kairi’s and Pluto’s jaws dropped in surprise.

“So good to see you here, little brother!” Olaf said joyfully.

Kairi’s surprise increased. “Little brother?!” she exclaimed in disbelief.

“Oh, I guess you two must’ve started playing with each other so quickly, you didn’t properly introduce yourselves. Allow me,” said Olaf as he clutched onto one of the snow monster’s claws and led him up to Kairi. The snow monster hesitantly walked alongside him.

“Kairi, Pluto, I’d like you to meet my little brother, Marshmallow. Marshmallow, this is Kairi and her dog Pluto,” said Olaf.

Kairi unsummoned her Keyblade and hesitantly held out her hand to Marshmallow’s claw. “Uh, nice to meet you, Marshmallow,” she said unsurely.

Much to her surprise, Marshmallow regarded her with uncertainty. ‘I guess I can’t really blame him. I did almost attack him.’

“Now don’t be shy, Marshmallow. Kairi’s very nice. She’s actually a very close friend of Sora’s,” said the smaller snowman whispering the last sentence.

A small smile came to the giant’s face. He placed the tip of his claw into Kairi’s palm allowing her to shake it.

Kairi returned his smile before it was replaced by concern. “Olaf, doesn’t he feel a little moist?”

Olaf glanced at his stick hand and took note of the moisture now on it. “Not to worry, Kairi. All Elsa needs to do is give him a flurry of his own and he’ll be okay for his visit.”

Kairi gazed at the giant snowman. Now that he wasn’t creating an uproar, he looked like he was a pretty gentle giant.

Although, there was one feature of Marshmallow that disconcerted her. She noticed several holes scattered around his body. They almost looked like battle scars.

“Olaf! Kairi!” exclaimed Anna’s voice.

Kairi turned and saw Anna, Elsa, Kristoff and Sven approaching. Behind them was a crowd composed of the castle staff. All of them seemed to be concerned with Marshmallow’s presence.

“Anna! Elsa! Marshmallow came to visit us!” exclaimed Olaf.

Anna looked at all the holes over Marshmallow’s body and gasped. “What happened to him? Why does he look so roughed up?”

“You mean he doesn’t look like that normally?” asked Kairi causing Anna to shake her head in response.

Olaf finally noticed the holes himself and his eyes opened wide. “Oh! I’m sorry, little brother! I was so happy to see you; I didn’t notice you were hurt. Elsa, can you help him?” he asked worriedly.

“Don’t worry, Olaf. I’ll take care of this,” said Elsa as she waved her hands. Her ice magic travelled from her hands and flowed around Marshmallow. The holes filled up with new snow as he let out a sigh of relief.

“And just to make sure he doesn’t melt while he’s down here,” said Elsa as she conjured a larger version of Olaf’s snow flurry above the giant snowman.

“There! That’s better! Now you’ll be nice and cool for your visit down here,” said Olaf.

“Something tells me he didn’t come here for a visit, Olaf. Look how distressed he looks,” said Kairi.

“Kairi’s right. And even if he wanted to visit, Marshmallow knows that shouldn’t come down from the North Mountain when it’s not winter,” said Kristoff.

Before any of them could press the matter further, they heard from behind them say, “I heard the uproar and saw everyone running out. What ever is the matter?”

Everyone turned behind them to see the Duke of Weselton making his way through the crowd. Upon seeing Marshmallow, he gasped in surprise.

“Oh my! Erik and Francis told me of your larger snowman that guarded your ice palace, Queen Elsa. But to see it in person is quite a sight indeed. But why on earth has it come here?” inquired the Duke.

“Marshmallow is not an ‘it’, Your Grace. He is a he and I’m sure he would prefer that you referred to him as such,” snapped Anna causing the Duke to back off in surprise.

“Anna, don’t be rude,” chided Elsa before turning to the Duke. “You’ll have to forgive my sister, Your Grace. Marshmallow’s unexpected appearance is causing all of us a little concern.”

“Oh no. It was an error on my behalf. I meant no offense to er Marshmallow. Please accept my apology, Princess Anna,” said the Duke.

Anna looked as if she was ready to lash out again at the Duke. But a look of warning from both Elsa and Kristoff made her reconsider.

She took a deep breath and said, “It’s fine, Your Grace. Now if you’ll excuse us, we need to find out why Marshmallow is here. You may continue on your returning home.”

Elsa, in the meantime, addressed the rest of the crowd. “You can all return to your duties. My sister and I will attend to this matter,” she said as the crowd heeded her words and returned to the palace.

Anna turned her attention back to Marshmallow. “Marshmallow, not that we don’t like seeing you, but why are you here? You know Arendelle isn’t safe for you during the spring.”

Marshmallow gave an apologetic look. “Chased! From palace!” he cried causing everyone’s eyes to open up in surprise.

“Chased? What on earth would an immense creature such as him run away from?” asked the Duke’s voice.

Anna turned back to the Duke who had stopped shortly of entering the palace. She shot him a deadly glare causing him to cower slightly.

“Uh right. You were probably about to find that out. I’ll just return to my preparations to leave. Forgive my interruption,” said the Duke as he turned around and walked quickly back into the palace finally leaving the group alone in the courtyard.

‘Boy, if looks could kills, the Duke would be dead right where he stood. But as much as I hate to agree with him, he is right. Marshmallow looks like something others would run from, not the other way around,’ thought Kairi.

“Marshmallow, who chased you?” asked Elsa.

“People! With fire!” groaned Marshmallow who looked almost traumatized just mentioning it.

“Oh no. No wonder you ran,” said Olaf as he hugged his brother’s leg.

Kairi regarded the giant snowman with sympathy. ‘The poor thing! He must’ve been terrified! And I just had to shoot a Fire spell to get his attention,’ she thought with regret.

Kairi approached the giant snowman and grabbed onto one of his giant hands. She gave it a reassuring rub. “I’m really sorry, Marshmallow. If I knew who you were, I wouldn’t have tried to attack you.”

Marshmallow was surprised at the sudden gesture of comfort. But he gave a grunt of thanks.

“Why would anyone chase Marshmallow out of the ice palace?” asked Anna.

“I don’t know. Maybe they were seeking shelter in the mountain and found the ice palace. They may have assumed he was dangerous, and they ended up in a fight. A fight that they apparently won,” said Kristoff.

“That’s not very nice. Marshmallow would’ve probably let them stay with him if they had just asked nicely,” said Olaf.

“Yes. But unfortunately, Olaf, not everyone knows Marshmallow as well as we do,” said Kristoff.

“Well, whoever they are, we can’t let them get away with treating him like this. I say we march right up to the North Mountain and demand an explanation from them,” said Anna pounding a fist into her palm.

“Now, Anna, let’s not do anything too rash. We have to think this through,” said Elsa.

“What’s there to think about? There’s a group of people in your ice palace who attacked our friend. He was probably lucky to get out of there alive. We can’t just do nothing,” said Anna.

“I never said we were going to do nothing. I’ll travel up to the North Mountain and try to negotiate with them. It may just be a misunderstanding and we can resolve this peacefully,” said the queen.

“But what if it’s not a misunderstanding? What if these people are dangerous? I’m not letting you go up there alone if they are. Certainly not without me or the boys,” said Anna with Kristoff, Sven and Olaf nodding in agreement. Marshmallow nodded too although he looked a little hesitant.

“Anna, no. With my powers, I can protect myself from whatever might happen up there. Besides, if we all go, then no one’s going to be able to help Kairi search for Sora,” Elsa said.

Anna gasped in realization. She turned around to face Kairi. “Oh, Kairi! I’m so sorry! We’re supposed to be helping you today,” said the princess apologetically.

“You know what, Anna? It can wait,” said Kairi bluntly to everyone’s surprise.

“But Kairi, what about Sora? Don’t you want to start looking for him?” asked Olaf.

“More than anything. But who knows how long it will be before we actually find anything? We should deal with this right now,” said Kairi.

Anna’s surprise increased. “We? You mean…”

“Yes. If you’re going up to this ice palace, then you can count on me to help you out,” stated Kairi as Pluto barked to show his desire to help as well.

“I don’t know, Kairi. I don’t want to put you in danger,” said Elsa.

Kairi held out her hand and summoned Destiny’s Embrace. “I think I can handle any kind of danger.”

Everyone gasped in surprise. “You have one of those giant keys too! Just like Sora!” exclaimed Anna.

“Yes, she does. I saw it earlier before all of you came into the courtyard. You know, there must be some pretty big doors somewhere for these big keys,” said Olaf.

“I watched Sora use his to fight off the Heartless with Donald and Goofy. It was amazing what he could do with it,” said Elsa as she looked at the Keyblade.

“If you’ve seen what he can do with his, Elsa, then you know that like him, I’m not going to stay behind when there’s a wrong to be righted,” said Kairi.

“Kairi, are you sure?” asked Elsa.

Kairi smiled at the queen. “I am. The most important thing that we do right now is get Marshmallow his home back. Sora would do the same thing if he were here now.”

“I can see why you and Sora are such good friends. You’re both so helpful,” said Olaf.

“Indeed. Thank you, Kairi,” said Anna gratefully before turning to her sister. “Elsa, we know you just want to keep us all safe. It’s always been one of your best qualities. But that doesn’t mean you have to do everything by yourself. I believe that with all we have to offer, we can pull this off. And if Kairi’s willing to put her search for Sora on hold to help out, the least you can do is accept it.”

Elsa gazed at everyone around her hesitantly. Throughout most of her life, she dreaded any harm coming to the people she loved especially Anna. But she had to admit that her sister was right. With so many willing to help, including their newest friend, it would be wrong to decline.

Finally, the queen let out a sigh and smiled at her sister. “I guess I’m really outnumbered on this one. You win. Kristoff, can you get your sled ready to go?”

“Right away, Elsa. Let’s go, Sven,” said Kristoff as he and the reindeer dashed off to the stable.

“Come on, Kairi. If we’re going up to the North Mountain, you’re going to need some warmer clothes,” said Anna.

“Do you think you have anything that’ll fit me?” asked Kairi.

“I’m sure we can find something,” said Anna as she took Kairi by the hand and led her back into the palace with Pluto following behind leaving Elsa and Olaf alone with Marshmallow.

“Don’t worry, Marshmallow. We’ll get your home back. Right, Elsa?” asked Olaf as he petted his brother’s hand.

“We’ll see, Olaf. Hopefully, whoever chased him out can be reasoned with,” said Elsa worriedly.

________________________________________________________________

A short while later, everyone who was going up to the North Mountain was gathered around Kristoff’s sled to which Sven was hitched up. Anna was dressed in the winter clothes that she had got at Oaken’s during Elsa’s winter. Kristoff was in his ice harvesting outfit and Elsa remained in her snow gown.

“Are those clothes you found comfortable for you, Kairi?” Elsa asked the princess of heart who was now dressed in a brown winter outfit complete with boots and gloves.

“They are a little big, but it’ll do. I will admit, I’m not used to wearing something like this. Where I come from, the weather doesn’t usually require clothing this warm,” said Kairi.

“Well, at least you’re better dressed for cold weather than Sora was when he was here,” said Elsa.

“Yeah. I can imagine he probably was pretty vocal in his complaints about freezing. But Elsa, don’t you want to dress a little more warmly?” asked Kairi gesturing to the queen’s apparently flimsy gown that one probably wouldn’t normally wear in the cold.

“You don’t need to worry about me. The cold never bothered me anyway,” said Elsa.

“Yes. And you won’t believe how many times she’s made that point,” said Anna causing Elsa to chuckle.

Kairi smiled. It looked like Anna and Elsa were on their way to getting over their conflict.

“We’d better get going if we want to make it up to the North Mountain and back before dark,” said Kristoff.

“Can Sven make it in that time, Kristoff?” asked Kairi.

“Oh yes. I’m pretty strong and you will not believe how fast I can go,” said Kristoff in his Sven voice causing Kairi to laugh.

“At least you won’t have to carry Marshmallow with us in the sled. He’d definitely slow you down,” said the Princess of Heart gazing up at the giant snowman who had Olaf sitting on top of his head.

“Oh, he doesn’t mind walking. And I’ll be right up here so he won’t get lonely,” said Olaf giving his brother a pat on the head to which he let out a grunt.

“Let’s get going, everyone. We’ve got some bad guys to chase out of the ice palace so we can get Marshmallow his home back!” exclaimed Anna.

Everyone boarded the sled. Kristoff sat up front at the reins with Anna at his side. Kairi climbed into the back with Elsa and Pluto.

But just as Kristoff was about to command Sven to leave, a voice from the palace called out, “Queen Elsa! Princess Anna!”

Everyone turned toward the doors. To their surprise, the Duke of Weselton was running toward them with a pair of guards following close behind.

‘Now what does he want?’ thought Kairi.

Once the trio had reached the sled and stopped, one of the guards said, “I’m sorry, Your Majesties. We were about to escort him back to his ship. But he ran away from us.”

Elsa rose to her feet, walked to the edge of the sled and gazed at the Duke. “Your Grace, one of the terms of your visit was that you were to be escorted by the guards at all times and only go where you were supposed to,” she said sternly.

“I know and forgive my violation, Your Highness. But in light of the circumstances, there is something I feel I need to ask you,” pleaded the Duke.

Anna was about to say something until Kristoff gently grabbed her by the arm. “Let Elsa handle this,” he whispered.

“Very well. What is it?” asked the queen.

“I know this may be too much to ask of you and I know I have no right to ask in the first place. But I humbly request to accompany you on your journey to the North Mountain,” said the Duke causing everyone’s to shoot open with shock.

‘Why would he want to come with us?’ thought Kairi.

It seemed Elsa shared the same train of thought with Kairi. “Your Grace, why do you wish to come along?”

“Because if those ruffians that chased your giant are anything like I used to be, then perhaps I could be of assistance to you in persuading them of their error. You both could consider it part of my atonement for my offenses against you.”

“Your Grace, the best way you can atone to both of us for your offenses is to let the guards escort you to your ship and return to Weselton. We are all perfectly capable of dealing with whoever is in the ice palace without any need for your assistance. Right, Elsa?” asked Anna.

Much to Anna’s surprise, Elsa didn’t seem to agree. In fact, it almost looked like she was actually taking the Duke’s request into consideration.

Anna gasped in horror as she rose to her feet and faced her sister. “Elsa, no! Letting him come along is going way too far!” she exclaimed.

“Anna, please think about this. He’s abided by all our conditions during his visit here and up to now, he hasn’t asked anything of us. In light of that, I think maybe we should allow him to come with us,” said Elsa before leaning toward Anna and whispering to her sister, “This is still about keeping things civil between our homelands. It would be foolish to jeopardize that now.”

Anna looked like she wanted to scream. She looked over to Kristoff who held up his hands indicating he didn’t want to get involved in this.

Anna looked to Kairi. All the Princess of Heart could do was give a shrug showing she had no idea of what to do either.

“Errgh! Fine! You can come along, Your Grace,” said Anna begrudgingly before shooting her sister a glare. ‘But if you’re waiting for me to like it, you’ll be waiting for a very long time.’

“Oh, thank you so much, Princess. I promise you that you will not regret this, and I will do everything I can to assist you all in your endeavor. I also look forward to seeing this fabulous ice palace of yours,” said the Duke.

“Oh, you’re going to love seeing it. It’s quite a work of art, Mr. Weasel Town,” said Olaf.

The Duke’s eyes narrowed in annoyance. “It’s Wesel…,” he nearly shouted before catching himself and clearing his throat. “I mean, I’m sure it is.”

“Well, if you’re coming with us, then climb on in,” said Anna as she climbed off the sled.

“Anna, where are you going?” asked Elsa.

“To ride with Olaf,” she said curtly.

Kairi watched Anna walk up to the giant snowman. Marshmallow gently picked up Anna in his hand and raised her up to his shoulder allowing her to climb on top of him.

Kairi let out a sigh. ‘Just when it seemed that everything was about to be fixed between them, this had to happen.’

“Elsa, I’m going to ride with her and Olaf. Maybe I can calm her down,” said Kairi.

“Thank you, Kairi,” said Elsa as she climbed up front to sit next to Kristoff.

Kairi was about to climb out of the sled just as the Duke entered through the back. “Oh! I don’t believe we’ve had a proper introduction, young lady. The Duke of Weselton, at your service,” said the Duke with a bow causing the rear half of his wig to flop forward.

“Uh, nice to meet you, Your Grace. My name is Kairi, and this is my dog Pluto,” said Kairi as she bowed back while Pluto eyed the Duke with suspicion.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you both, Miss Kairi. Am I correct in assuming you are a newcomer to the queen’s circle of friends?” asked the Duke.

“You could say that. We all have a mutual friend who has gone missing. We were supposed to begin our search for him today before this problem came up,” said Kairi awkwardly.

“I’m very sorry to hear that. I do hope you find him,” said the Duke sympathetically.

“So do I,” said Kairi as she walked past the Duke and hopped off the end of the sled.

“Pluto!” she whispered as the dog came over to her. “I know the Duke seems like he’s not up to no good. But keep an eye on him just the same.”

Pluto gave a salute with one of his ears. He then turned around and kept his eyes on the Duke who was now seated behind Elsa.

‘Having the Duke come along is going to complicate things especially since I don’t know how he’s going to react if he sees me and my Keyblade in action. I guess I’ll just have to trust Elsa that he really is trying to turn over a new leaf.’

Kairi then walked over to Marshmallow. Knowing what she wanted, the giant snowman picked her up like he did with Anna and raised her high enough that she could climb up to where Anna and Olaf were.

“Nice of you to join us, Kairi,” said Olaf pleasantly.

“Glad to see you didn’t want to be around the Duke either,” said Anna bluntly.

Having overheard her sister, Elsa sighed and turned to Kristoff. “It’s time we got started. Go ahead, Kristoff.”

The ice harvester nodded and snapped the reins. Taking the signal, Sven began to pull the sled toward the gates of the castle. Marshmallow trudged close behind at a similar pace.

Their trip to the North Mountain and Elsa’s ice palace had begun.

________________________________________________________________

A few hours later, the party had travelled far away from the village. The signs of getting closer to the mountain were beginning to be seen as they entered an area of snow-covered ground.

As Kairi rode atop Marshmallow, she mulled over how the trip had gone so far. ‘According to what we learned when we stopped at Oaken’s trading post earlier, neither he nor any of his family heard anything come past them last night. So, whoever these people in the ice palace are, they must’ve come from outside Arendelle.’

Kairi then glanced over to Anna who was shooting a hostile look at the Duke in the sled. She had been doing it throughout the whole trip.

‘There’s got to be something I can do to help Anna end this hostility towards not only the Duke, but her sister as well.’

Suddenly, Marshmallow halted. Kairi, Anna and Olaf looked ahead and saw that the sled had stopped as well.

“Okay, everyone out,” said Kristoff.

“What on earth for?” asked the Duke.

“I need to take the wheels off and replace them with the runners. Otherwise, we can’t go any further, Your Grace,” said Kristoff.

“Oh. Well, carry on then,” said the Duke as he, Elsa and Pluto disembarked the sled.

But just as Kristoff was about to get to work, he saw something up ahead. He rushed toward it.

“Kristoff, what is it?” asked Anna from on top of Marshmallow.

“There’s a trail of tracks over there. They’re heading in the direction of the ice palace. I’m going to take a closer look,” he said as he pointed ahead.

Once the ice harvester reached the tracks, he kneeled down. He studied them closely.

“Does he know what he’s doing?” the Duke whispered to Elsa.

“Kristoff grew up in these wilds, Your Grace. So, if he thinks there’s anything that can be learned from those tracks, we have to trust him,” said Elsa as Sven grunted in agreement.

“If you say so. But I do hope we get to our destination very soon. The way this dog has been looking at me is making me rather uncomfortable,” said the Duke pointing over his shoulder at Pluto who was still keeping a close eye on him.

After a few minutes, Kristoff returned to the sled. “What did they look like, Kristoff?” asked Kairi.

“From what I saw, there’s footprints, hoofmarks and sled tracks which means there may be a lot of them. But I can’t tell how many exactly,” said Kristoff as he resumed work on swapping the wheels for the runners.

Elsa gazed up toward the mountains ‘What kind of people are we dealing with and what could they be doing up there?’

“Do you think it would be a good idea to turn back and resume this journey with reinforcements?” asked the Duke.

“No. We’ve come too far already to turn back now. Besides, we have everything and everybody who can handle this, Your Grace,” said Anna sourly.

Elsa glanced up at to Marshmallow. Her heart sank as she saw the persistent unpleasant look on her sister’s face.

Seeing the Duke was on the opposite side of the sled and out of earshot, she walked up to Kristoff and asked quietly, “Kristoff, do you think I made a mistake in bringing the Duke along?”

“I know you’re just trying to keep things good between you and him, Elsa. But I won’t deny that it is a bit of a setback to things getting back to normal around here,” said Kristoff as he worked.

Elsa’s frown deepened and Kristoff offered her a comforting smile. “Don’t worry. I have a feeling that the other feisty redhead up there can talk some sense into her.”

In spite of herself, Elsa managed to smile a little as she recalled her conversation with Kairi the evening before. ‘Kairi does seem like the type of person who could do that. It’s no wonder she and Sora are good friends.”

“I think there may even be a little more than friendship between them,” said Kristoff causing Elsa to give a look of surprise.

“He did grow up with love experts so he can recognize it when he sees it,” Kristoff said in his Sven voice to which Sven nodded.

Elsa thought about it some more. ‘Kristoff may be right. The way we’ve heard Kairi talk about Sora, even though it’s tainted by sadness, is very similar to how Anna talks about Kristoff.’

Then a small frown came to her face. ‘I can only hope after this, we can find some way to bring the two of them back together.’

________________________________________________________________

Much later, after the wheels had been swapped out for the runners, the trip had resumed. The party was now travelling even higher into the mountains.

Ever since the earlier stop, things had been pretty quiet between Elsa, Kristoff and the Duke. None of them was willing to start a conversation. They sat in silence in the sled.

On top of Marshmallow, however, Olaf was as vocal as usual. He was laying on his back and pointing out the shapes in the clouds.

“Look, Anna and Kairi! There’s a cloud that looks like a fluffy bunny! It’s so cute!” exclaimed the snowman pointing upward.

Kairi looked at the cloud in question and smiled. “You’re right, Olaf! It does look like a rabbit. Don’t you see it, Anna?”

Anna said nothing. She just continued to glare at the Duke in the sled.

‘Okay. Peacemaker time,’ thought Kairi. “Anna, I know you’re not too… enthused about having the Duke with us.”

“Now there’s the biggest understatement ever, Kairi. Any second now, I know he’s going to turn on us and hurt Elsa,” said Anna.

“Anna, I doubt he’s going to try anything especially since we outnumber him eight to one. If we’re going to deal with this problem, we’re all going to need to work together and this frosty attitude towards your sister isn’t helping things,” said Kairi.

“Anna?” Olaf asked causing her to turn to him. “Kairi’s right. I don’t like it that you’ve been making Elsa feel so badly,” he said sadly.

A flash of regret shot across Anna’s features. “I’m sorry, Olaf. I don’t like making Elsa feel bad either. It’s just so hard being around the Duke after everything he did.”

“I understand, Anna. I’ve actually been in a position similar to this one before,” said Kairi.

Anna turned to the other redheaded princess. “You have?”

“Yes. Very recently, I had to train and fight alongside someone that I wasn’t on very good terms with,” said Kairi.

“What exactly did this person do to you?” asked Anna.

“He tried to kidnap me in order to force Sora to do what he wanted,” said Kairi.

Anna’s eyes opened wide. “He did? And you had to work with him? How did you manage to even be in the same room with him?”

“Believe me, I was asking myself the same question. But after some time, I realized that though his methods were wrong, his reasons weren’t and just because he did bad things in the past didn’t mean that he was incapable of doing good. And what also helped was the fact that he ended up helping to save Sora from a very terrible fate.”

“Saving Sora does sound like a good reason to be friends with this person,” said Olaf.

“That was the biggest reason I decided to forgive him, Olaf,” said Kairi.

Anna seemed to consider Kairi’s story. But she still didn’t look one hundred percent convinced.

“You don’t have to become best friends with the Duke, Anna. But don’t rule out the possibility that he may have turned over a new leaf because I have seen it happen,” said Kairi.

Anna let out a sigh. “I get what you’re saying, Kairi. And I guess it is pretty admirable that Elsa is willing to give the Duke a chance. It’s just…”

“Just what, Anna?” asked Olaf.

“It’s just that every time I see the Duke, I’m reminded of all the danger Elsa was in after the coronation. Especially since it was all because of me,” Anna said remorsefully.

The last sentence of Anna’s struck Kairi and Olaf by surprise. “Anna, what do you mean?” asked Kairi.

“If I hadn’t been so desperate for love and accepted a marriage proposal from someone who never loved me, Elsa’s powers wouldn’t have been revealed in the worst possible way. Then the Duke would never have tried to kill her. I caused so much trouble for her and having him around is just a painful reminder of it,” said Anna who looked like she was about to cry.

‘So, a lot of the anger Anna’s been showing has actually been at herself. I certainly know how that feels. Sora ended up in so much danger because of me in the past that that all I ever wished more than anything was that it would never happen again,’ thought Kairi.

“I’m sorry, Anna,” said Olaf patting her hand.

“Me too,” said Kairi.

“It’s okay, Olaf and Kairi. You didn’t know. But you are right that I haven’t been very fair to Elsa during all this. The Duke has behaved himself during his visit so maybe if he does manage to help us out at the ice palace in some way, I guess I could consider letting bygones be bygones a little,” said Anna.

“That’s the spirit, Anna. If he can help get my little brother his home back, then I’m sure we can all be friends,” said Olaf.

“Well, I don’t think I’d go that far, Olaf,” said Anna with a small chuckle causing Kairi to smile. It was good to see Anna taking her words to heart.

“Anna, there’s been something I’ve been meaning to ask you: does Olaf know what the word ‘little’ actually means? Because that really isn’t the word I’d use to describe Marshmallow,” said Kairi.

Anna chuckled. “When Olaf calls Marshmallow his little brother, he’s not actually referring to his size, Kairi.”

“That’s right. Marshmallow is my little brother because Elsa made him after she made me with her powers,” said Olaf.

“Oh, so it’s matter of who was ‘born’ first. Now I get it,” said Kairi with a laugh.

“Glad we could clear that up for you, Kairi. Oh look! We’re nearly there! The ice palace is just up ahead,” exclaimed the little snowman pointing ahead to a bend in the path.

“Oh, you’re just going to love it when you see it, Kairi. Elsa’s ice palace is one of the most wonderful, amazing, beautiful…” Olaf stopped just as they rounded the bend.

Everyone’s eyes widened and their jaws dropped. But not in awe.

“Oh no,” said Anna in a tone of shock and despair.

________________________________________________________________

Onto the next chapter!

#kingdom hearts #kh fanfiction #sokai #kairi #pluto #marshmallow #olaf #anna #elsa #kristoff #sven #duke of weselton #maddrmatt

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bert-thefrog · 4 years ago

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Grief - Rafael Aveiro

Content Warning: Character Death, Cheating

Word Count: 1097

Rating: SFW

Rafael Tag List: I have forgotten...

Perma Tag List: @msjpuddleduck @lilyoffandoms @itsbrindleybinch @twin-skltns @theo-oface

Description: Not me appearing like a year and a half after I last wrote anything on this site. This is basically if Sora and Rafael stayed together but PB still killed him. I’ve had this in my drafts for a few months. Please tell me if you remember if you were meant to be on my tag lists or not.

Our love is a river long. The best right and a million wrongs. – ‘Go Solo’, Tom Rosenthal

“It’s alright Casey; it’s going to be alright.” Bryce strokes my hair in a futile attempt at comfort as I cling to him sobbing.

“He’s gone.” I choke, crying harder as a fresh wave of grief washes over me. Bryce doesn’t reply, holding me tighter without another word. There’s nothing anyone could say right now to make the pain go away. Everyone is grieving in their own way. Elijah sits silently by the window, staring at the world outside blankly. Sienna is in the kitchen, distracting herself by baking. But the tears in the mixing bowl weren’t part of the recipe. Jackie, I don’t know. She hasn’t left her room since the news broke.

Aurora called us a few hours ago from Mass Kenmore. Rafael Aveiro is dead. I didn’t hear the rest. I don’t want to know.

“Someone should check in on Sora.” Elijah speaks up. Sora. Shit.

“Oh god. Poor Sora.” Sienna bursts into a fresh flood of tears, but my stomach churns at their words. It’s not that I don’t feel for her, but how do you comfort the grieving girlfriend of the man you were sleeping with and not feel like a complete fraud?

“Casey, you knew them both best. Maybe-“

“No.” I cut Elijah off before he can even finish the sentence.

“Not the best time Elijah.” Bryce shakes his head at him across the room.

“Sorry, I just thought because they were friends...” He trails off.

The word is a punch to the gut. Friends. That’s all anyone knew we were since Sora came back into his life, if they knew the truth they’d be disgusted, furious. Especially since this was all my fault. He was about to tell her the truth, to leave her so we could make a proper go of things. That wouldn’t happen now. None of the plans we’d made would.

…

“Casey are you coming?” Jackie sticks her head around the door, morning of the funeral. She’s already dressed, ready to leave. Meanwhile I’m still buried underneath the covers, same place as I’ve hidden for the last week.

“I don’t think so.”

“Why not?” The bed dips with her weight as she sits down beside me, hand resting on where my shoulder is buried by the duvet.

“I just can’t face it.” I don’t tell her about Sora’s text, warning me she knew, to keep away. It only confirmed my worst fears; that this really had been all my fault. In his decision to leave her for me, I set about a cataclysmic chain of events – starting with a kiss and ending with an upturned car wreckage on the side of the road.

“I hate to be that person, but this isn’t about you Casey. Our friend is dead, and we have a responsibility to show up for him and for Sora.”

“Sora doesn’t want me there! Okay?” I throw the covers off me, sitting up to stare my best friend down until she leaves.

…

“She hasn’t gotten out of bed in days, I know they were close, but this is crazy. Ramsey is worried about her clocking up enough hours to stay in the programme.” I can hear Sienna in the hallway, talking softly to an unknown.

“You don’t think-” Aurora trails off.

“No. No way, Casey would be some secret affair. She’s too good for that.” Sienna leaps to my defence immediately. If only she knew.

“I’m not so sure. You know Sora told her to stay away from the funeral, right?” Jackie interjects.

“What?” Both Sienna and Aurora are stunned by the news.

“That doesn’t mean anything. She’s just grieving. Grief does funny things to us – we all know that.” The voices get quieter as the trio retreat to the living room and I begin to feel guilty, remembering how Sienna lost Danny.

…

“You’re up!” I hear Sienna before I see her, turning around in the kitchen to where she’s standing in the entryway.

“Yeah. I thought I better get back into the hospital at some point. Don’t wanna lose my residency.”

“Ah. You heard us yesterday.” Sienna blushes and I offer her a watery smile.

“It’s okay. You guys were just worried about me.”

“Did…” She struggles to find the right words for a moment. “Did you still love him?”

“I did.” I concede and understanding flashes between us for a moment. “It was after everything with the senator…” She winces, remembering. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. Do you want to talk about him? With me I mean?”

“Not yet. I’m not ready yet.”

“Whenever you’re ready.”

…

It was right after everything with the senator, the cannister and Danny. Sora went home for the night, once she knew Raf would pull through. And I, I hovered outside his room, weighing it all up. What I was about to do – was it worth it? We had nearly died, if there was ever a time to risk it all. It was now.

“Casey I know you’re there, come in.”

“Sorry.” I hesitate in the doorway until he pats a space on the bed beside him, inviting me to sit there.

“Don’t be. What is it?” His hand finds mine, stroking the pad of his thumb across my knuckles gently. Here goes nothing.

“I love you. I never stopped loving you and sometimes I don’t think I ever will stop loving you and it hurts Raf. It hurts.” I didn’t want to cry but somehow the tears won’t stop falling, rolling down off my cheeks and onto the blue waffle bedcovers.

“Casey…”

“Please don’t say anything. Please? Just give me one more minute where I can believe you love me too before you break my heart all over again.” I take a deep breath, using my free hand to wipe away the rogue tears still making their way down my face. He holds my other hand tighter, watching me wordlessly.

“You don’t have to stop believing that.” He whispers, watching me with tired eyes.

“What?”

“You don’t have to stop believing that. I love you too.” He repeats, voice a little stronger this time. He tugs the hand holding mine, until I get the hint, lying down beside him and curling into his side, wary of all the wires around us.

“What are we going to do?” I question, letting my eyes open and close drowsily when he kisses the top of my head.

“We’ve got time. We’ll figure that out.”

…

But time is up.

#rafael aveiro #rafael x reader #open heart #choices open heart #choices #open heart fanfiction #fanfiction

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cutegirlmayra · 5 years ago

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Kingdom Hearts 3: Sokai Prompt

It’s birthday week! :D I’m celebrating it by giving presents to all of you! Here’s some more prompts, coming to you as fast as I can write them out this week!

Prompts and commissions are open! But if you have submitted 3 prompt requests, please leave room for others to join in the fun too! <3

Prompt:

“So... this is where the keyblade wielders of the past called home.” Riku stepped into Scala Ad Caelum as the rest of the gang tagged along, all admiring it.

“Em, I’ve heard a lot about this place.” Aqua nodded, looking around, “It’s amazing. More than I could have imagined.”

Terra stepped into what looked like a decoratively designed city square, but noticed the circle format seemed more like a dueling field...

He summoned his keyblade, “I think I know what these symbols mean. Aqua, do you mind?” he smiled kindly to her as she was momentarily surprised by his request.

She looked at the symbols, walking towards him before stopping in realization at his request. “This is...” She nervously held her hand up to her chest.

“Heh, don’t worry. We don’t have to finish it. I just wanted to see how it’s really done.” Terra explained, comforting her second of hesitation.

“Wait, what is it?�� Ventus came bounding up to them, but Aqua kindly gestured to the rings around the much larger tiles. “O-oh...” he stepped back, letting them occupy a circle. “But hey! Don’t leave us hanging.” He teased, putting his hands behind his head a moment as the others walked to watch around them.

Kairi was too distracted by the sights, but Sora stopped following the others to look back to her, “Huh?” He walked over to her, “Everything alright, Kairi?”

“Oh, yes.” she turned and nodded sweetly to him, then went back to marveling at the area. “It’s just... something seems... like I’ve been lost here before.”

He tilted his head, “Before?” The memory of finding all the pieces of her heart here in such a hurried time, panicking over if he was too late or not came back to his mind then.

He looked down, wondering if that feeling of ‘being lost’ was maybe related to that...

“Your heart... did wander here before.” He softly, almost unsure if he should say it, spoke out as Kairi turned her ear to him.

“Is that... what it is?” She smiled cheerfully to calm him and bent down so his lowered head could still see her eyes. “Don’t look so down, Sora. You did retrieve my lost heart again... for that, I’m really grateful.”

He leaned up and she joined him by walking towards the others who were forming a circle around Aqua and Terra. Placing her hands leisurely behind her and together, she lingered in her stride, waiting on Sora. “You’ve done that a lot lately for me... someday, I hope... to return the favor.” she nodded ahead of her, but then moved faster towards the others, as though not wanting to dive too deep on the topic just yet.

Sora watched her and smiled, thinking about all the times he has saved her before and flicked his nose, “Heh.” He felt confident then, but didn’t really know why...

Maybe it was because she acknowledged that he’s always been there for her... but he didn’t really give it too much thought. Right now wouldn’t be a good time to reflect on things anyway.

“What’s going on?” Donald quacked out, “I don’t see anything special about them.” He tapped his impatient duck foot that slapped against the ground a little too loudly to be polite.

Terra and Aqua nodded, deciding to not keep their ‘audience’ waiting too long.

“It’s an old tradition... or, um, well...” He gestured his hand out to explain, but seemed to trip up on his words as he looked to Aqua for assistance.

“The culture of the keyblade wielder has been lost for so long, it’s hard to explain but..” She gave him the nudge he needed, and turned to the others. “It’s a dance... and a battle... so to speak. But it’s all meaningful and creates a strong tie between two hearts... if completed properly, anyway.”

Terra continued, “In other words, Keyblade wielders would use this to form strong bonds between one another... but it was mostly done for rituals like-”

“It’s a wedding!” Ventus was on his hands and knees, looking at some symbols and seeing two keys shooting a white beam towards one heart. “If I’m reading this right, it connects two hearts into feeling like one, ultra powerful one!” he looked up at Aqua and Terra. “Terra! You rascal! What are you planning to do with Aqua!?”

Aqua shook her head, “It’s a powerful bond, but it’s different than--necessarily--a marriage.” she explained. “Although... many did perform the connecting of hearts through this ritual during their ceremonies... it can also be done with friends.”

“But... not likely.” Terra looked away and down to the ground, as though not really wanting to correct her. “Either way, I’ve only ever read about it in books. Wouldn’t it be exciting to see it actually done?”

“But not completed.” Aqua summoned her keyblade, “Right?” She cutely tilted her head to tease him, and he just gave her a slight scold with his eyes. “What? I thought it was funny.” She tried to joke, and Ventus laughed.

“Wait, wait, wait. Hold on a second, I haven’t memorized this yet.” Axel placed his finger to his forehead, pausing the explanation. “You’re both saying you’re--willingly, without restraint--going to try an ancient keyblade ritual you’ve never actually seen before... and are... hoping it doesn’t link your hearts infinitely together in some... ultra heart thing?” he shrugged, but Xion and Roxas just looked up to him, then to each other.

“Sounds fun.” Xion nodded.

“Yeah, let’s give it a go.” Roxas agreed, and the two walked into one of the other circles. “Axel, do you mind?” He gestured to him still being in the tiled circle.

“Wha... you... both of you!?” He crossed his arms, amazed they were going to try and follow along too. “Am I the only one seeing this possibly ending badly here!?”

He wildly gestured around to the others, and Sora looked to Kairi.

She didn’t say anything, but lightly looked to him as well...

“Count us in too, Terra.” Sora nodded to him, and offered Kairi his hand.

“Gworsh.” Goofy covered his mouth as he stepped back for the two, letting them pass him.

She giggled and took it without a second thought, as Riku folded his arms and shook his head. “Great, now you’ve got everyone pairing up.”

Terra and Aqua looked a little worried, hesitating as the two pairs summoned their keyblades. “A-Axel’s right. It is risky... And for novices it’s-” she held out her hand, hoping to dissuade them.

“We just won’t do the last step,” Roxas gave a confident look towards Aqua. “But that doesn’t mean we don’t want to see how it works, too.”

Goofy laughed, “This should be interesting, yehak!”

Donald’s impatience left him as he heard everything taking place, and pulled Goofy back to give them all more space. “Whha!! I gotta see this!”

“But we’re not even sure what the ‘one heart’ process really does. I think me and Aqua are more suited to discovering--through safer means--what they used to mean to keyblade wielders.” Terra didn’t really want to argue or convince anyone, but he did want to explain both him and Aqua’s reasonings.

“We’ll be fine!” Sora chimed up, then looked to Kairi, letting her take her place and situating himself where he saw Terra. “If we can’t keep up, we won’t activate the power, right?” He tilted his head, and Terra and Aqua both looked to each other in agreement, seeing some safety in that.

“That is true...” Aqua repeated in hopes that if they didn’t do it accurately, the process wouldn’t commence.

“You guys...” Terra shook his head, “Alright. Phase one.” He held his keyblade towards Aqua, and immediately, an air of seriousness took over the atmosphere.

Goofy and Donald looked to each other, Donald more pumped than Goofy’s worried expression before he seemed to concede that this was happening with the dangers and or not. “Be careful, Sora... Kairi, Xion... Roxas... and you guys too.” He slightly laughed again, but there was a bit of concern in his voice.

“Ahhh, they’ll be fine!” Donald waved a hand out, as though dismissing Goofy’s troubles.

Roxas and Sora, as though not really realizing it had already begun, scrambled to mimic Terra’s posture and placement as quickly as they could. They adopted the serious look and Xion had to hold in her laughter at it.

Aqua, surprisingly, took on a much more playful demeanor and swished her body to where her keyblade rested by her side, her wrist gently against her hip to let the keyblade linger out slightly towards Terra’s.

Kairi and Xion took an extra second to adjust themselves, but it was clear they weren’t as well coordinated as Aqua was masterfully demonstrating.

“We won’t make it easy for you... so if you don’t watch carefully, we’ll let you fall behind.” Although Aqua said that... it motivated the two girls, and they immediately rose their heads up, just as determined to match Terra’s expression as the boys were.

As though the world sensed the magic resonated in the three pairs hearts, sensing what they were going to do--the world began to hone it’s magic into one, central part of the square...

Lifting her leg, Aqua made the first move and followed the symbols, as though a rhythm of music was playing in her heart.

The second she moved, so did Xion and Kairi, and Terra remained still as stone.

“The first phase is to judge ones loyalty to your heart, it’s supposed to be aggressive, so don’t hold back.” Aqua, after a few gentle movements of turning her keyblade and up, seeming graceful in her light but long steps, suddenly swished it down with great power.

Again, the world resonated with power at the action.

“Prepare yourselves.” Terra smiled, and began to defend himself against her twirling hits and powerful slashes at him.

“A-ah!” Roxas wasn’t prepared for the harshness of the battle right off the bat, but braced himself as Xion came charging at him, then twirled to match Aqua.

Aqua slid her keyblade down Terra’s own and then jumped.

Following the pattern, he fell to a knee and helped her flip over him by giving her keyblade some support.

“Phase two,” He lowered both knees, “Technique and passion.”

Sora had seen Kairi in battle before, even joined her in it, but he was also awestruck at her following Aqua so naturally as he quickly tried to copy Terra and dropped to a knee, letting her cartwheel over him and then looking to see Terra on both knees. “What!?” He seemed shocked by that but even more so that Terra had one hand behind his back...

“Ahh..!” Sora quickly looked back to Kairi and watched the sparks as her Keyblade slammed into his own, she gave out a strong cry as she hit it.

Dodging more powerful hits, Roxas and Sora sweated slightly as they had to use one arm to block and their knees to continually adjust their upper-bodies to perfectly deflect the on-slaughter of hits.

Roxas squinted an eye closed when Xion jumped like Aqua into the air, and slammed down fiercely onto his own. “And this is to show loyalty?” Roxas gritted his teeth, impressed by how hardcore the keyblade wielders of the past were.

Axel whistled and folded his arms, “Or maybe... the girls were just that intense.” he nodded as if approving, but Riku just looked at him a moment, almost in a funny way.

“Or maybe, they all were. This is only the beginning, right?”

Ventus walked over to stand next to Riku, and hearing that, looked shocked and innocently startled at the possibility that this dueling dance could get more impressively complicated and difficult.

“Woah! I hadn’t thought of that!” He cupped his hands over his mouth to call out to his friends, “Don’t let up! Give it your all you guys!”

Feeling the burn, the boys were happy to see Terra--after bending his body back to dodge a sweeping strike, jump to his feet and begin to clang his keyblade over and over with hers in a swishing manner, but much lighter than an actual fighting force.

Roxas and Sora jumped to match, but Sora wobbled a bit.

Roxas flailed his arms but took a step back, making a mistake and falling on his rear. “Offph! Geez, Xion... you’ve really gotten stronger. Did you even hold back?” he rubbed his head as she came over to him, seeing he was alright and just stumbled, she placed a hand over her mouth.

“Hehe, I couldn’t resist the idea of making an effort.” She held out her hand and helped him up.

The power around their circle ceased... but the two continued to perform the ritual anyway, getting back into place and trying to catch up.

Sora... tilting as though he would fall... scooted his feet back to his center of gravity without moving off the symbol, and got up properly to his feet.

Kairi’s eyes blinked rapidly, impressed that he hadn’t fallen down, and nodded with an encouraging smile to not give up.

Sora looked to see Terra with both hands now on the keyblade, and quickly did the swishing motion to maneuver himself to the next phase, and Kairi followed suit.

“Technique, huh?” Sora raised a tempting eyebrow, as though getting into this, and Kairi giggled.

“Don’t hold back, I can take a hit.” She narrowed her eyes, not backing down.

Sora nodded, “Then I won’t look away!”

Terra’s moves sent sparks of magic over the tiles on the ground, the symbols each represented a type of magic that he summoned and shot towards Aqua. She was able to dodge but noticed that some of the symbols meant for her to simply block and not dodge. “Kairi!” she called, looking over to her after worrying that some of the magic might be too advanced for her to block.

But Kairi took them, and Sora didn’t miss a beat.

“Oh...” Aqua froze a moment, stunned by her determination and Sora’s trust in her abilities. ‘But she’s only just begun training...’ she thought to herself, before looking up at Terra swinging his keyblade down on her.

“Ahhh!!!”

“Hmph!” she sprayed up some magic that he blocked, knocking him back.

“Phase 3...” Aqua took a deep breath, “Passion and stability...” she took her keyblade and, following Terra’s pace, linked the tips of their key’s protruding edges and fell back.

The power it took to maintain a steady swing of their bodies without either one misjudging the balance and having their partner fall to the ground was for more masterful arts than what Aqua or Terra thought the other two pairs could mimic.

But surprisingly... Xion and Roxas performed it perfectly, while Sora and Kairi took the pace a little slower and communicated more.

“And...” Sora began, making sure their keyblades were perfectly locked.

“Go..!” Kairi dipped back as did Sora, swinging themselves in the bend before immediately transitioning to the next step.

Standing as close as their keyblades to their bodies could allow, they came in and out, and then Sora took a strong stance and only swung Kairi on the linked keyblades.

“Wait... are they even watching Aqua and Terra anymore?” Ventus looked to see Xion and Roxas still a few seconds behind, but Sora and Kairi were perfectly synced with them now. “But they were falling behind before.”

Riku also watched,... before flinching back, “Hold on, I think they’ve figured out the symbols.”

Axel also looked amazed by that, “Wahhh? Come again!?” he leaned his full height out and forward, gesturing to Riku to explain before looking to see Sora scan the ground while firing out a magic attack, running to roll as Kairi countered with another magical attack.

They both healed--although no one was hurt--and then turned to attack the other.

Terra also turned his eyes to them, but being careful to match pace with Aqua as they started--what appeared to be--a more realer version of a keyblade duel. ‘They’ve been watching the symbols as well as us..? No...’

He spun to dodge a hit from behind before positioning himself to walk within the circle at the same timing as Aqua, their keyblades now pointing towards the other again. ‘They’re learning the patterns... the repeating signs... they’re...’

Sora and Kairi paused and stood directly across from the other, their keyblades still in one, fluid motion dancing as they twirled, tossed, and continued the actions more like a dance performance now.

Once stopped again, Aqua and Terra panted, but looked over to see Xion and Roxas lowering their keyblades, all eyes... were watching Sora and Kairi.

“They’re like... moving as one.” Ventus arched his eyes, watching as Aqua and Terra also lowered their keyblades.

‘They were learning with their hearts...’ Aqua studied them a moment before sighing, “That’s it, before the last step.” Aqua stopped, nodding to Terra that they should end here. “They certainly had an odd way of showing affection.”

Terra was still watching Sora and Kairi as they were also locked onto one another’s eyes, breathing to a steady pace and closed their mouths after catching their breaths.

“...Terra?” Aqua spoke out again.

“Huh?” Terra turned back to her, “Oh... right.” He looked shaken up, and seemed to adjust himself on his feet to remember himself. “The last phase would be to barely move the keyblades, but just enough to unlock the other’s heart. However, the process was described as having to be done at the exact same timing... much like how the ritual is done all at similar, but exact pacing...” He gestured to the circle and the symbols. “The phases bring you closer and closer to the center, however...”

Aqua continued, walking up to him, “The last phase is to separate you both again... before making your heart one.” She looked to the others, turning to them to make sure she had their attention...

The circle beneath them dimmed in power, before all but fading away. The last circle remaining still carried glowing light, barely traceable to the eye, but forming direct magic beneath Sora and Kairi’s ring.

She was still surprised Sora and Kairi were keeping their eyes fixated on one another, their keyblades never lowering.

“Umm...” she looked to them a moment, but continued, “When the hearts are shot at the same time, then they unlock together. When the two keyblade wielders placed a piece of them inside the other’s heart, something meaningful for the both of them that they share, then the two hearts become connected as though one.”

“Rumor has it that this meant they could feel the other, whether troubled or being threatened, and if one heart disappeared... the other would feel their partner departing.” He looked to Aqua, “But such a ritual has been forbidden now. Due to it’s emotionally scarring nature... to feel someone you care so deeply about dying... or even lose their heart...”

“It’s like feeling the darkness engulf you forever.” Aqua clutched her own heart, before looking to the others. “And that’s it. That’s all me and Terra wanted to experience. Just... how they did it.”

Sora watched Kairi’s eyes carefully...

A silent communication.

Kairi never wavered in her intense stare... until she broke it with a smile.

Sora’s eyes lit up at it, and he closed his eyes to give her a returning, large grin.

Then... they watched.

“Umm... Sora?” Riku stepped forward, then looked to Kairi, unfolding his arms. “Kairi..?”

Axel watched their faces, then looked to their keyblades, “Oh no...” His hands on his hips fell... as the two keyblades slightly moved to the sides, and a beam of light pierced their hearts.

“Whha!!!” Donald scrambled his arms around as they fired out.

“Wait, hold on! Sora! Kairi!” Goofy held out his hand, almost moving into the circle but their hearts flew out before more could be done.

The two hearts, due to the power of the world suddenly blasting out from the circled tile, pulled the hearts together and for a split second... they were one in a flimsy line of lights from the circle.

Entering each other’s hearts, Kairi looked around Sora’s heart. “This does feel familiar.” she joked to herself, before forming out of light a paopu fruit, half bitten into. “My most treasured memory... and a promise I wouldn’t dare forget... that I made to you.” She closed her eyes, remembering the memory in a flash before letting the figurative image that was a piece of her heart fly into his stain-glass portrait...

The world burst to light again.

Sora walked into Kairi’s heart, admiring the stain-glass as he lightly bent down to touch it. “...Feels like its made of the same petals to your heart, Kairi.” He smiled at the thought, before leaning up and forming with light her Good Luck Charm: her Wayfinder.

“I have so many memories with you, Kairi... but this one holds the start of them all.” He gripped it tightly, placing a piece of his heart in it. “I know... that I won’t ever be apart from you anymore... I can feel what you feel too. You’ll never be lost from me again...” He found it hard to let go of... but soon... let it drift into her stain-glass portrait as well.

“-ra! ...Sora..! Sora, wake up!”, “Don’t do this to me!”, “Whah-hahah! You can’t leave us like this!”

Sora blinked his blurry eyes slowly open, “Ughh... Goofy? Riku..? Donald!” he pushed Donald up from him, seeing him about to go for CPR. He made sure his face was okay before kicking and flailing his arms out. “I’m fine, I’m fine! My heart’s still here, see?” He gestured to himself, showing he was fine.

He then looked around, and gently moved Goofy out of the way to see Kairi still passed out.

“Kairi!” He took off from the ground... but stumbled in his sudden weariness... “Ughh...”

Goofy, Donald, and Riku both held him up.

“It’s alright, whatever that light was, it brought your hearts together and then parted them again.” Riku explained, then looked over to Kairi, “Both of your hearts were brought back to their bodies... neither of you disappeared.”

“Your hearts were like- WAHHHA, then the light was like SWAHOOOHOOO, even before you hit the ground it was putting them back like WHAH-WHAH!” Donald animatedly demonstrated the process of what they saw. Although it had been seconds to them, Sora felt like it had been a bit longer than just that...

“Before we hit the ground..?” Sora tried to get back up, and finally found the strength to do so.

Then it happened.

He felt his heart, but then something separate from his heart.

Something that was woozily waking up.

“Ah! Kairi.” he looked down.

“It’s alright, Sora. I’m sure she’ll wake up soon.” Riku took one of his arms and placed it over his shoulder.

“No... I mean... she’s waking up.” without even looking at her, Sora knew she was stirring, and Riku looked up to see Kairi lean up, clutching her head and then her heart.

She looked to Sora before everyone began asking her questions.

Donald hugged Sora’s legs, crying, “You’re no longer a solo half-pint like the rest of us!”

“Golly... Ya-hak! You two are kinda like old-time married then, right?” Goofy seemed to be taking it well...

“Ma... Married?” Sora’s face suddenly turned red. “Ah! I forgot about that!”

“Wha?!” The three looked amazed at him.

“That’s the part you forgot?” Riku looked more shocked than the other two.

As Kairi got up, Aqua immediately began to drill her. “What do you feel? Are you hurt? How’s your heart? Is your body feeling connected to it still?”

“I-I’m fine.” Kairi lightly nodded and smiled to her questions. “I just... I feel Sora’s embarrassed by something.” she tried to look over their shoulders, but couldn’t see Sora over the mass of people.

For the rest of the day, Terra and Aqua informed Sora and Kairi of their reckless behavior and what it had done. Now, they would feel the presence and emotional standing of the other, and what kinda toll that could bring to them...

However, Sora and Kairi kept wanting to not be parted. The urge to hold hands--just to feel close again--was a lot to handle while everyone kept asking them questions.

The ritual hadn’t been done in centuries but...

Sora and Kairi looked to each other, and smiled sweetly.

That didn’t stop them from bringing it back.

They didn’t think twice.

“Crazy kids.” Axel rubbed his hand into his hair, before noticing something was off, and looked under his arms to realize that Roxas and Xion weren’t there again. “Wait a second... Ah! Don’t you dare! Get back here!” he stomped his foot down as he looked to see Xion and Roxas practicing the ritual again, trying to get it perfect this time around.

“Oh, come on! Give me a break here...” He slumped his shoulders down in front of him before pulling himself up into a pitiful laugh, “Having a heart is a strange thing indeed...” he went over and scooped the two up as they tried to protest, and brought them back with the rest of the group, not willing to hear their complaints.

#kingdom hearts 3 #sokai prompt #soraxkairi #roxasxxion #roxion #roxion prompt #kh3 #kingdom hearts prompt #cutegirlmayra #aquaxterra #terqua #terqua prompt #kingdom hearts 3 prompt

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cheshiresense · 6 years ago

Note

I guess the fandom has a thing for Ichigo redeeming the seemingly unredeemable? (I know I do.) Besides, Koyonagi is really interesting. I'm looking forward to more of him and Touma in your work :D (PS: would you ever be willing to expand on Hungry!Tsuna? I just keep thinking about what Reborn said about Fon and possessive storms and really, how could Fon dislike Tsuna? honestly I just want to see poor Tsuna taken care of, and the more possessive guardians the better xD )

OKAY. FON. FIRST MEETING. *cracks knuckles* actually no i hate that, eventhe sound of someone else doing it makes my hands itch and my inner pianistcringe so idk how about fancy stretches instead And more Reborn&Viper. Forsome reason I just keep going back to them.

Pinglist:@yoshifics @bewarethemandragora @runeofluna@selenedreamwalker @hypnos28 @verticallychallengedintrovert@fandommaniac2401 @lovingempress @cynthia-of-the-wallflowers@shadowsofmoonracer @pairp @warriorofbooks @charlottedabookworm @lyra689 @sheyrenawyrsabane @sora-the-empress @xadriannax @yumeniai @arrysa @lirial89-fanfiction @skysong246 @caiahat @grimreaper19 @arosethornbyanyothername @mtkiseki @kaminoko-x@nesskyru @tatarako @parklena42 @zibeth-a @aerdnanocte @timegrenades@healingmichiko @shiko-rae @soraofmelody @fandoms-make-the-world-go-round @north-peach @yannilicious @wolfsrainrules @anaissesteighart

Tsuna’s health has been good, getting better,especially after a tentative Guardian bond formed with Viper.

(”Don’t you have a contract with the Varia?”

“Arcobaleno business takes precedence. It’s even in the fineprint. Legal cause to resign, even if Vongola won’t like it. Don’t youhave a contract with the Nono?”

“…”

“Exactly. And both our resignations have clearly been lostin the mail. So quit trying to get rid of me.”)

But it’s not enough. Tsuna comes down with a fever on aMonday. It’s not a bad one, nothing like the spikes in temperature Reborn hadto deal with back when it was just him and Tsuna. As much as it… disgruntleshim to admit it, even just to himself, Viper’s presence helps.

But even a second Arcobaleno can’t fill the sheer amount ofFlames that Tsuna needs to live. And it probably doesn’t help that he refusesto eat as much of their Flames as Reborn and Viper are willing to offer, stillinsisting on going the catch-a-criminal-stranger route most of the time. It’s aconstant battle to get Tsuna to feed on them even just four times a week,although Reborn supposes even that’s a victory worth celebrating consideringback when they first decided on this method, Tsuna had pushed for once a fortnight.

(It doesn’t hurt as much these days, as it did the firsttime Reborn broke off a piece of his own Sun core. He’s wondered on occasion ifmaybe it’s just because he’s done it one too many times and has numbed himselfto it. He doesn’t think so - it’s not the kind of thing one can get usedto, as his experience with Luce can attest to - but this is new territory forall of them. All he knows is that the more time he spends with Tsuna, thestronger their bond becomes, which makes sense, obviously, but also, thestronger that bond becomes, the less it hurts when he offers Tsuna his ownFlames. Nowadays, it feels less like he’s breaking off a piece of his very souland more like… he’s exchanging it. When he gives his Sun Flames to Tsuna,it’s almost as if Tsuna’s own Flames automatically reach out to fill what heloses, and he recovers that much faster because of it.

He’s talked about it to Viper, who admits it’s nowhere nearas violating as it was with Luce, which they’d braced themselves for the firsttime they offered a terribly dismayed Tsuna their Flames. If the process hurtsthe illusionist at all, they haven’t said, and Reborn hasn’t seen any signs ofit.)

As it is, Tsuna might not be anywhere near as sick as hecould be, but Reborn still made the executive decision to pull him out ofschool and confine him to bedrest for the day. There’s no need to push theirluck.

On his part, Tsuna sleeps. He grumbled a little earlierabout overprotective mother hens, but he drifted off almost as soon as he wasushered back to bed. He doesn’t stir for most of the rest of the day, but thatalso means he doesn’t jerk awake vomiting black Flames so Reborn would cautiouslycall it a success.

On the other hand, Viper - not so much. Tsuna wasunderweight and plagued with exhaustion on and off since the illusionistarrived, but he’s gotten better since then, with Reborn as a crutch, and thenViper later on. This is the first time Viper’s seen Tsuna’s health take anosedive in a way Luce never did even at the end of her life.

“Would it help if he ate more?” Viper asks, and it’s onlybecause Reborn has known them for so long that he can hear the tension beneaththe clinical monotone.

Reborn checks Tsuna’s temperature again. “He’ll be fine.”

Viper glares. “That isn’t what I asked.”

Reborn reminds himself that he was probably just as out ofhis depth as Viper currently feels back when he was first learning how to takecare of Tsuna. That doesn’t prevent his answer from coming out just a touch toosharply, “He’s eating four proper meals a week; what do you think?”

“Then-”

“We’re not force-feeding him unless he’s on the brink ofdeath,” Reborn cuts him off. He slants an uncompromising look at Viper,ignoring the way the room seems to darken threateningly for a moment. “Tsunasaid no. We can argue about it, but we aren’t going to disregard his opinionanytime we please.” He reaches up and tilts his fedora down over his eyes. “Wearen’t Luce.”

He doesn’t need to see it to know Viper has to suppress aflinch back. “This is different.”

Reborn sighs, more tired than irritated now. “Not sodifferent.”

“It would be for his own good!” Viper hisses, and somethingin Reborn marvels at that. Even back when they didn’t know about Arcobaleno andthe Tri-Ni-Sette and Checkerface, when they didn’t know what Luce was luringthem into, Viper never concerned themselves with Luce’s wellbeing to thisextent. Maybe that was because Luce was never in this kind of situation, neversick when they still would’ve cared, but perhaps too it should’ve been a clue,a warning.

“And Luce did what she did because she believed it was forthe good of the world,” Reborn points out harshly, and this time Viper doesflinch. The silence that follows feels almost chastised.

I was here first, Reborn doesn’t say. I’ve beenwith him longest, even if that doesn’t mean much because he’s been alone somuch longer. But I was the one who saw him at his worst, not you. Do you thinkI don’t want him healthy and strong and not starving any less than youdo? Do you think I don’t want to shove as much of my Flames into him as ittakes to make him full for the first damn time in over half a decade?

But consent means something a little extra to himthese days, and when it comes down to it - Luce forced them to feed her topreserve herself and the world. Reborn won’t force Tsuna to eat just so theycan preserve Tsuna. Not unless there’s no other way. He’s selfish andpossessive enough to admit that. And at least for now, regular, propermeals - however few - seem to be helping enough to see some signs ofimprovement. Until that changes, drastically enough to require intervention,Reborn will respect Tsuna’s wishes.

Don’t you understand, you fool? I never want Tsuna tolook at me the way we all looked at Luce in the end.

He doesn’t say any of this out loud of course. It revealstoo much of himself, and he’s never been that close to the other Arcobaleno.

“Make yourself useful and pass me another ice pack,” Heorders instead.

Viper glowers, bristling at being told what to do. But inthe end, they look at Tsuna, paler than he’s been in a while, Flames flutteringunsteadily against their senses, and a moment later, the illusionist concedesand tosses Reborn an ice pack before busying themselves with opening the windowfor some fresh air but also tossing some Mist Flames around to keep the draft out.

Then they both settle down to wait.

The doorbell rings, just past four in the afternoon, butthey both know who it is. They eye each other for a moment before Viper clickstheir tongue in annoyance but capitulates and goes to get the door. Nana is outshopping, but even if she wasn’t, it isn’t as if she would’ve done anythingexcept let her visitor right on in.

Sometimes, Reborn wonders how she’s even still alive.

Downstairs, Viper opens the door and demands flatly, “What.”

Standing on the doorstep like there’s nowhere else he’drather be, Fon smiles. “Good afternoon, Viper.”

Viper stares woodenly at him and doesn’t budge. Fon’s smilewidens. His eyes remain as cold and calculating as Reborn’s at his worst.

“Colonello called me,” Fon continues, and Viper thinksuncharitably that they should’ve trapped the idiot in his worst nightmaresuntil he forgot he ever stumbled on them at Mafia Land.

They ignore the fact that if they were in Colonello’s oreven Fon’s place - and they were, a mere three months ago - they would’vewanted to know about all this too.

It’s different now. They’re Tsunayoshi’s Mist Guardian now,properly bonded in a way Viper never was with Luce. There was a bond there,yes, but there was also always a nagging sense of wrongness that Viperwas a fool for ignoring just because they’d finally found a Sky that seemedworth following and also wanted them. They’d dismissed their ownintuition, reasoning that the bond just needed more time to settle, and itwasn’t until it was far too late to back out that they realized why - a Flamebond forged on a foundation of lies is no real bond at all.

Tsunayoshi is different from Luce in every conceivable way.And if Fon is here to give him any kind of trouble, even just to sate his ownmorbid curiosity instead of staying away, especially today, he’ll haveto deal with Viper first.

“-about the Sky Arcobaleno,” Fon is saying. “And how he’s…different. Since I was in the area, I thought I would drop by and see formyself.”

Viper scoffs. “He’s unavailable at the moment. Come againlater.”

Fon’s smile doesn’t falter but it does thin a little.“Viper.”

“Fon.” Viper echoes flatly, and neither of them gives aninch.

Fon shakes his head, and for the first time, his smileslides off his face, and a flicker of something that teeters betweenfrustration and challenge slips past that iron-clad control of his. “I’m theStorm Arcobaleno, I have the right to see him.”

“And I’m his Mist Guardian,” Viper counters, and apart of them revels in the spark of pride that that title brings. “You’ll seehim when he wants to see you, and I have no qualms about enforcing that.”

They stare at each other for a moment. Something in Fon’s expressionspeaks of genuine surprise, like he didn’t expect Viper to put up this much ofa fuss, even though Colonello almost certainly sensed their Flame bonds andthen told the others.

“And Sawada-san does not wish to see me?” Fonenquires after a moment.

Viper gives nothing away. “He’s busy.”

Fon stares at them some more, and then stares past them atthe stairs leading up to the second floor.

This close, Viper wonders if he can sense the disturbance inTsunayoshi’s Flames.

Fon looks at them again, and for just a second, it looksalmost like he’s willing to try and force his way past Viper. But only for asecond, and then his genial expression returns. He takes a step back, inclineshis head, and says, “Another time then. I have some work to do nearby anyway.My private number is the same.” He smiles even as his eyes narrow in warning.“Do remember to call me when Sawada-san is available again, Viper. Good day toyou.”

Viper watches him go, not shutting the door until they can’tsense the Storm in the vicinity anymore.

Reborn says nothing when they return, but Viper supposes -somewhat sardonically - that’s a compliment in itself.

Not that Viper needs Reborn’s approval. But at least thisway, the hitman doesn’t open his mouth or open fire and very likelyannoy Viper enough to retaliate.

Their Sky needs all the rest he can get after all.

Tsuna recovers in a few days and agrees to meet Fon over theweekend.

At Takesushi.

With Reborn and Viper at the other end of the restaurant, andthat only because they refused to wait outside or let Tsuna go alone.

“Are you sure about this?” Reborn grumbles. They’d shown upearly and settled themselves at the bar table where Reborn has taken todisassembling and reassembling one of his handguns under the faintly alarmedeye of the sushi chef. Tsuna has no idea why the guy hasn’t called the cops onthem yet or even remarked about toddlers playing with “toy” firearms, but he’salso spent the past six-plus years living with the fact that nobody in thistown is capable of noticing anything out of the ordinary, and even if they are,they certainly can’t be bothered to say anything about it, so really, this ispar for the course.

Besides, Tsuna has faith in Reborn’s ability to talk himselfout of any trouble he might get into.

“I’m sure,” He says instead. “If he’s come all this way tosee me, I think I should at least meet him, right?”

“Don’t say that like it was much of a hardship for him,”Reborn scoffs. “Besides, he has family in town.”

Tsuna blinks. “What, really?”

“The Hibari family,” Viper says from where they’re perusingthe menu. “You know one of them, don’t you?”

Tsuna blanches a little. “H- Hibari-san is Fon-san’srelative?”

Hibari Kyouya has never paid much attention to Tsuna, asblind as the rest of this town to his oddities, but everyone knows aboutthe prefect’s violent proclivities in the name of discipline.

“Yes,” Reborn answers. “A great-nephew, I think. To be fair,Fon has rarely visited since he became an Arcobaleno. But Namimori isn’t new tohim.”

Tsuna digests this silently and wonders if Fon will be likeHibari Kyouya, easy to anger, quick to strike. Viper did say Fon was polite,when Tsuna asked what the Storm Arcobaleno was like, but the way they said itmade Tsuna think they actually meant it as an insult.

On the other hand, Viper says almost everything like it’s aninsult.

Privately, Tsuna contemplates the odds of Fon being morelike Reborn or more like Viper. Reborn, who refused to run and stubbornlypowered through even the worst of Tsuna’s episodes and was the first to chooseto give up a part of himself just to ease Tsuna’s hunger? Or Viper, who neverslept in the same house for the first two months and looked at Tsuna like theycouldn’t decide whether to attack or flee but still came back every single daylike they couldn’t help themselves until they learned to trust him?

Or maybe Fon would be neither, more like Colonello instead,so terribly, horrifyingly afraid, more than a little confused, and - unlikeReborn and Viper both - with enough self-preservation and sense to actuallystay away.

The latter, he hopes, and ignores those tiny parts of himthat are somehow still capable of hoping for something else entirely.

(Five and empty and tripping over everything, six andhurting and tired, eight and desperate, ten and starving, thirteen and aloneand standing on a bridge, wondering if death might be better.)

It would be selfish. More than Tsuna deserves. And he’salready dragged two people into this. He can’t do anything about Reborn andViper anymore, and he knows that the two of them are split between a possessivesort of satisfaction that Colonello hasn’t come after them and contemptuousdisdain for the same reason.

Fon though…

The door of the restaurant slides open. Viper stiffens andhalf-turns. Reborn doesn’t but the last piece of the gun he’s been handlingsnaps ominously into place just as Fon walks in.

“Promise you won’t eavesdrop?” Tsuna checks.

Reborn rolls his eyes while Viper sighs.

“You never spoke to me privately,” The illusionistcomplains.

Yeah, and look how that turned out, Tsuna doesn’tsay.

“You were too scared to speak to him privately,” Rebornpoints out because at heart, he is a troll. Viper tries to stab him with theirchopsticks.

It’s Tsuna’s turn rolls his eyes. He glances quickly at Fon,who’s caught sight of them and looks about ready to come over and join them.The Storm… really does look quite a bit like a miniature Hibari. He’s wearing ared Pacifier, and his hair’s tied back in a braid, but the biggest differencewould probably be the fact that he doesn’t look ready to beat up everybody inthe vicinity for breathing the wrong way.

“Guys,” Tsuna insists, and this time, Reborn and Viper heavetwin sighs even as they get up to leave.

“Fine,” Reborn says, clearly displeased as he pins Fon withan unblinking stare. He still has his gun out. “We’ll be at that booth. Screamif you need help.”

“I will not scream,” Tsuna mumbles sullenly. Justbecause his voice hasn’t broken yet, and he had the misfortune of beingstartled by one of Reborn’s cockroach spies in the house the other day. A lot ofpeople are scared of cockroaches. Not all, but that doesn’t mean the rest wantto cuddle them either.

He watches them take up residence in the corner booth,smiles weakly at the sushi chef who’s raised an eyebrow at them but doesn’tcomment, and then takes a deep breath and turns to greet Fon.

Fon hops up onto the bar table, murmurs a polite thanks whenone of the waiters comes by with a fresh cup of green tea, and then settles downcross-legged before turning all his focus on Sawada Tsunayoshi.

So, this is the new Sky Arcobaleno. To be honest, he doesn’tseem very impressive. The first time Fon met Luce, her Flames - gentle but strongin a way that couldn’t be ignored - tugged at him like the summer tide on theshore, playful and welcoming. Tsunayoshi’s Flames… well, Fon can barely feelthem. Which is strange because Colonello said he could sense the Guardian bondsthat the Sky Arcobaleno has with both Reborn and Viper. Fon thinks he can feelthem, when he concentrates, but they’re like wisps of smoke, nothing like thepowerful, stable connections Colonello talked about.

If Fon didn’t have a name and facial description to go by,he would’ve walked right past this boy without sensing anything out of theordinary about him. He has almost no presence, his features aren’t particularlystriking (and in fact there’s a tired gauntness about his face that suggests hemight be recovering from an illness), and he’s fidgeting nervously under Fon’sgaze even though Fon made sure he was at his most disarming best before he evenentered the restaurant.

Definitely civilian born and bred, although it is curious -one would think if the boy was anxious about meeting him, he would want Rebornand Viper with him.

“So, hi,” Tsunayoshi finally blurts out. “I’m SawadaTsunayoshi. Nice to meet you.”

Fon inclines his head. “I am Fon. Thank you for taking thetime to meet me.”

“Oh, I- There’s no need to thank me for that,” The boyhurries out. “I was- I was a bit sick earlier; that’s why Viper turned youaway. But I would’ve met you then if I could’ve.” He pauses uncertainly for amoment. “I’m not really sure why you’d wanna meet me though? Did you havequestions?”

Fon smiles, but that just seems to make Tsunayoshiuncomfortable. “Not particularly. I simply wished to meet you. It is not sostrange, is it? For a Guardian to meet their Sky?”

That gets a bigger reaction. Tsunayoshi jerks back as ifstung, and out of the corner of his eye, Fon sees a very deliberate flash of amuzzle pointing his way. He ignores it.

“But you’re not!” Tsunayoshi bursts out, and he actuallylooks faintly disturbed. “We just met! And I know that’s not how itworks, Reborn explained it to me, I don’t- I don’t inherit you from-from Luce-san.” His hand goes to the Pacifier around his neck, tapping absentlyat it for a moment. “So, I guess what I’m saying is, you don’t have to stay oranything.”

Fon considers him for a second, then nods over his shoulder.“But you don’t mind Reborn or Viper staying?”

Tsunayoshi’s expression twists into something resigned and distraughtand somehow angrily happy all at the same time. “I don’t think I had much of achoice,” He mumbles, fiddling with the napkin in front of him now. “Reborn wasreally angry with me the one time I tried to kick him out. And Viper sort ofinserted themself into my life before I really noticed.”

He straightens and seems to shake his odd mood off. “Butanyway, they- Reborn and Viper, they chose to stay, but that doesn’t meananybody else has to too, just because I’m the Sky Arcobaleno. I mean, things aren’teven that interesting in Namimori. And my life is especially boring. All I dois go to school and go home and train a bit with Reborn and Viper on the side.I’m not even eligible for Vongola Decimo anymore, obviously, so there’s notreally any point in hanging around.”

He trails off, and his expression shifts into somethingexpectant, like he half-thinks Fon is going to turn and march out the door,just like that.

Fon arches an eyebrow. But, well, this is interesting too.And half the reason he came here at all, isn’t it?

“And if I also choose to stay?” He enquires.

Tsunayoshi’s shoulders go tight. “I- Well, I mean, you can,of course.” His legs kick against the barstool. “Are- Are you going to?”

Fon hums noncommittally. “Perhaps. If nothing else, it willbe a chance to catch up with old friends.”

“Oh,” Tsunayoshi murmurs, and everything about him suddenlygoes still, down to his hands and the napkin he’s been wringing between them.

Fon tenses, just a little, but he continues smiling, keepinghis expression mild. “There’s no need to sound so disappointed, Sawada-san. Youwon’t even give me a chance?”

Tsunayoshi stares for a moment longer at the table, afaraway look in his eyes, and then he glances back at Fon with a weak smile.“That’s not it. Like I said, of course you’re welcome to stay if you want. Areyou staying at a hotel? Or- Or with your family? Reborn and Viper mentioned them. Or youcan come visit my place-”

Fon listens to the boy ramble on, and when it happens, well,it happens so slowly he doesn’t even notice until-

There are Flames, he realizes abruptly, rippling like aheatwave in the air between them, and when he looks sharply up at Tsunayoshiagain, the darkness in those brown eyes makes him jerk back.

Because he’s seen that look before - hungry and relentlesslike the gaping maw of a slavering beast - and Fon is its helpless prey, pinneddown and unable to do anything but take it.

He scrambles to his feet, uncharacteristic panic making himclumsy. He didn’t even know when he lowered his guard enough to be taken off-guard.But then, Luce was unassuming as well. In this, Tsunayoshi is apparently thesame, just in a different way, and Fon should be better than this.

In a flash, even as his breath feels like it’s stalling inhis lungs, his mind jumps between every exit he marked when he first came in -front door, back door, two windows, easily broken - but he also knows there’snowhere he can run.

He knew, from the start, that it was foolish to come here.When he got the call from Colonello, every sensible instinct in him told him toget as far away from Japan as physically possible. But he also heard aboutReborn and Viper and genuine Guardian bonds, and neither of them were stupid,they would never fall for the same tricks again, especially Reborn. Yetthey’d taken their Sky to an amusement park, for all intents and purposes justa fun day out, and then by the sounds of it even treating him to dinner. Viperwas even going to pay for a hotel, for a trip detour that certainly wasn’tnecessary.

And they’d been protective, Colonello had said, protectiveof their Sky even against a fellow Arcobaleno, and indulgent in a way thatspoke of real affection.

And Fon - as much as he was tempted to simply hang up anddisappear - stayed on the phone and questioned Colonello twice about everyaspect and observation of the short encounter, and by the end of it, a thoughthad trickled in, unbidden - was it just Reborn and Viper, bonded with the newSky Arcobaleno? Or did he have others already?

Did he have a Storm?

And something in him snarled at the very idea of anyoneencroaching on what was essentially his territory. It seemed likesomething Reborn might do too, if that protective streak of his reared its headtoo much - dig up some other elements with strong potential and train them uphimself instead of waiting for the other Arcobaleno, whom the hitman would knowfull well might never come at all and would probably run in the oppositedirection if confronted with the very notion of bonding with the SkyArcobaleno.

And before Fon knew it, he was on a flight to Japan. Heexperienced firsthand Viper’s bristling defensiveness, and even if he didn’tsee Reborn until now, he also sensed the hitman like one would an aggressiveneon-bright warning sign in the background, and even if neither of those things puthim entirely at ease, they were still points in favour of Sawada Tsunayoshi.

Besides, Colonello swore up and down that the new Sky nevereven tried to eat his Flames, that Reborn and Viper’s Flames weren’t theravaged mess Luce consistently left them in either when she fed on them.

Fon still should’ve known better. But he was curious, andfoolish, and no matter the calm he likes to portray to the world, he’s still aStorm, and a Hibari to boot, with all the jealously guarded covetous instinctsof each.

(Because he thought, just for a moment - maybe this one’sdifferent. And in the end, such a pathetic hope was what drove him hereafter all.

Checkerface knew exactly the kind of people to prey on,didn’t he?)

He looks at the Sky Arcobaleno once more, at that yawninghunger that Luce wore so well, and he backs away, preparing to leap to thefloor and out the nearest window as quickly as he can, shattered glass bedamned, even as he braces for the nauseous sensation of an insatiable Skytearing away at his Flames once more.

He takes a step-

-and stops.

Tsunayoshi is still watching him. He’s sitting there andwatching him with Sky-stained eyes that burn with a bottomless appetite,and Fon should be running, out of this restaurant, this town, this country,anywhere but in the direct line of sight of the Sky Arcobaleno, and yet-

Civilian, born and bred, and so Fon catches it, just aglimpse, lurking underneath the ravaging hunger - guilt. It’s there, inthe lines of his face and the pinch of his mouth, determination and regrettwined together and running just as deep as his hunger, and that is whatmakes Fon stop.

Because in all the time he knew her, Luce never regrettedwhat she did to them.

And he thinks: Reborn and Viper stayed - why?

He turns back, faces the greedy rush of Flames bearing downon him with a terrifying weight only he can feel, and even as his heart poundsin his chest and remembered revulsion rises in his throat, he doesn’t move.

They brush against his Flames, grasping fingers full of adesperate sort of want, but then - abruptly - it’s as if they slam intoan invisible wall, and between one breath and the next, they’re yanked back like the snap of a rubber band.

Tsunayoshi falls off his chair, and Fon gets a singlewide-eyed look of shocked disbelief before the boy crashes to the ground andFon suddenly has a gun at his head and a cold tendril of Mist curling aroundhis neck like a noose.

“What did you do?” Reborn demands, and his infantilevoice resonates for just a moment with the deeper near-forgotten timbre of theman he once was.

People are turning to look. Viper - on the floor and helpingTsunayoshi up - waves an irritated hand, and the civilians lose interestimmediately.

“Tsunayoshi? Are you alright? What happened?” Their eyes arestill hooded, but when their head lifts in Fon’s direction, Fon can sense thechill in them. Their Mist Flames remain a threat around his neck, and Reborn’sgun doesn’t waver.

But Fon only has eyes for the boy pushing himself up into asitting position, three shades paler, hands shaking, and Flames - good godhis Flames - like a whole forest of plum blossoms in full bloom, all beauty andcolour, deceptively delicate but fierce and resolute in the dead of winter, andabsolutely unwavering in the way they thread themselves with Reborn’s Sun andViper’s Mist.

Fon finds his voice, and it comes out hoarser than heexpects but he doesn’t care. “Did you just try to frighten me intoleaving?”

Tsunayoshi flinches.

Fon huffs an almost unsteady laugh, feeling light-headed andthrown off balance for the first time in decades.

“I think,” He muses, casually disintegrating Viper’s Mistnoose with a spark of his own Flames and stepping lightly away from Reborn’sgun and dawning realization. “I would very much like to stay after all,Tsunayoshi-san.”

Tsunayoshi makes an incoherent sound of despair, and Fonthinks he knows why now. He’ll have to apologize though; he won’t be going anywhereanytime soon. Not when this Sky Arcobaleno’s first instinct when it came to Fon was to protect.

#OMG THIS GOT SO FUCKING LONG #myscrap #headcanon #is this even a fucking headcanon anymore #prob not #but it's what i labelled the first two so it's a fucking headcanon gdi #khr #sawada tsunayoshi #reborn #viper #fon #msg #raz-ia #hunger verse

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x-blade-master · 6 years ago

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Concession - Kingdom Hearts Fic

The first KH fic I’ve ever written -- figured I would pop it on here. This was written before KH3′s release.

Summary: Sora gets Roxas back, but at the cost of Riku’s patience. Basically, just a few thousand words of Roxas being a little bitch to Riku because he deserves it, even if we love him.

Rating: Gen

Relationships: None

Characters: Sora, Riku, Roxas

Bringing Roxas back hadn’t been anyone’s priority but Sora’s, even if all his friends stood by him as he quested around Twilight Town to find a way to return him to the world of light. Sure, Riku and Kairi had been cheering him on, and Donald and Goofy had accompanied him wherever the clues went. But really, this was Sora’s quest, one no one could understand. They hadn’t felt what Roxas felt. They hadn’t stared into the eyes of someone so broken and stomped on by life that they finally conceded to its whims. Their lives weren’t stolen.

Yen Sid had told him Roxas was a problem he was creating when they had so many more problems to deal with. Roxas wasn’t one of the missing keyblade wielders; he wasn’t Terra, or Ventus, or Aqua, he wasn’t one of the lights. He wasn’t necessary in this war.

He didn’t get Sora’s point. Necessary in the war didn’t matter. There was life and light beyond the war (Sora had to believe that, had to believe there was an end for him to see with his friends) and Roxas, who had been hurt as much as everyone else, deserved to see that end. So he was getting Roxas back, no matter what.

And he did. He got him back. For a moment he felt like gloating, telling him that he was his own person, here’s the proof. Roxas’ shock, quickly turned thankful, was more than enough for him in the end. Things got a bit more interesting after that.

Roxas had what Sora could only call a bittersweet affection for him. Always thankful for what he did, but also holding onto all that time he had lost to a boy he barely knew. It didn’t bother Sora much; he had a pretty thick skin. And he could consider it more bitter than sweet because Roxas rarely left his side. He would’ve thought that Roxas would run to Lea’s side, but there was a weird tension between the two (mostly on Roxas’ end) that kept him close to Sora.

Which meant Roxas frequently had run ins with Riku which were… stressful, to say the least.

They had been filling Roxas in on some of the past events. Sora wasn’t even sure Roxas was listening outside of an occasional nod. After he finished talking about the Mark of Mastery exam (and his subsequent failure) Roxas turned to Riku with a sharp, not so friendly expression.

“How’s it the guy who can’t keep a keyblade becomes a Master, but you didn’t?” he said.

Riku looked like he was teetering between retaliation and calmness. It was true Riku had gone through his fair share of keyblades, but Sora also knew that if anyone deserved to be a Master, it was him.

“Hey now,” Sora said before either of them could keep going. “Riku just took a bit to get it right is all.” He withheld from pointing out that Roxas had been using keyblades that weren’t his, either, and was probably going to find one that suited him rather than Oathkeeper and Oblivion.

Neither of them were satisfied with the interjection, but they didn’t keep bickering. A tiny victory.

Another time, Roxas thought it would be fun to antagonize Riku while he was sitting to the side, watching him train with Sora.

“Wow, Riku, Sora basically has you beat. You aren’t going to be a sore loser and use the darkness against him, are you?”

Riku’s swing missed, but Sora was equally caught off guard by the statement to not wack him with his keyblade. They both looked up to see a smug, if a little pained, expression on Roxas’ face.

“Roxas…” Sora began, but he didn’t really know where to end the statement. Riku took a deep inhale, focused his thoughts, and then back to the training, acting as if nothing but a strong wind had blown by.

It wasn’t a lack of a reaction, not really, so Roxas found himself pleased.

Some time after that, Riku had been looking for Sora to have a private conversation. There were so many people and so many things to think about that a moment alone with his best friend was just the sort of reprieve he needed.

When he found Sora, he wasn’t alone. He had stepped quietly enough into the room so that he wasn’t noticed, but it was just Sora and Roxas hanging out. Well, Roxas noticed him, and if that tired (annoyingly familiar) smirk was anything to go by, he knew that Riku was probably looking for a little alone time with Sora.

He backed out of the room carefully. Staring at Roxas was like asking for a headache to come for him. It was Sora’s face contorted in constant exhaustion and anger and a certain smarminess that his childhood friend could never manage to pick up. It was Sora’s eyes, blue as the sky, played back on a different station that just threatened revenge or murder or something equally angsty.

Maybe when Riku was younger it was easier to get mad at Sora. But after everything he’d done to him, seeing his face now just made him soft and shameful. He sighed. He deserved this a little, if he was being honest. He hadn’t been the nicest to Roxas, and he worked with DiZ, who had definitely just been plain rude to him. He could handle a bit of snark and frustration.

Roxas just didn’t know when to let up.

Finding Sora without his little shadow was impossible. The only time Roxas left his side was if someone else (not Riku, never Riku) needed Sora to help them with something. They did /everything/ together. Oh, he wasn’t jealous. No way. He had done the jealousy thing before and it did not end well.

He thought he had gotten Sora alone for just a second when they rounded a corner and bumped into each other, but there was Roxas, looming over his shoulder with an unreadable expression and a popsicle stick between his teeth.

“Oh, sorry Riku!” Sora said with his usual chipperness. “Roxas and I just got back from Twilight Town. Sea salt ice cream isn’t really the same anywhere else, ya know?”

“So I’ve heard,” he said, not breaking eye contact with Roxas.

“You should come with us next time! Kairi wants to go, too. It’ll be fun!”

Roxas leaned against Sora with an arm on his shoulder, like a lazy cat in a patch of sun. “Yeah, Riku. You owe me at least 500 munny worth of ice cream, if not a trip to the beach.”

He pinched the bridge of his nose, giving up on their weird staring contest. “Look, Roxas, I’m /sorry/ about that--”

“So you have my money? I worked for that, you know.”

Sora looked at him inquisitively. “You had a job?”

“Several.”

“Alright, look, if it’ll cool you down,” he said, already reaching to grab whatever munny he had on him.

“Cool me down?” Roxas repeated. “I dunno, I’m pretty cool right now. You seem a bit bothered though.”

Riku gritted his teeth. This was impossible. He was being impossible! On purpose! And Sora had the gall to stand there and act like it nothing was going on. Or maybe this was awkward for him. He hadn’t really considered that.

He let out a long breath, refocusing on Roxas. “I’m sorry,” he said for the second time. This was a sorry for everything he’d done. His least offense was probably stealing the munny anyway, and his worst might have been waiting this long to apologize. Roxas looked him over idly.

Roxas waved his popsicle stick around. “So, what, no munny?”

“You-”

Sora cut him off. “Roxas, we have plenty of munny for ice cream.”

He shrugged. “I know. I’m just teasing. Right, Riku?”

“...Right. I’ll catch you later Sora.” He made sure not to glance back at the two of them.

Roxas’ melancholy was palpable from miles away to Sora. He was just staring at the stars, sitting with his legs crossed in front of Yen Sid’s tower. It wasn’t often that Roxas was away from Sora. It wasn’t like he was shy, but he understood the comfort in being close to the person whose heart he had stayed in for a while.

Sora settled down next to him, shoulder to shoulder. “We gotta talk,” he said softly.

“We’re always talkin’,” Roxas said.

“Yeah, but we gotta talk about Riku.”

“What about him?”

He sighed. “Look, I know you two had a really rough start. I know Riku did some not so great things when he was trying to wake me up. I wish I had been there. I wish I had met you before. But he’s gotten so much better and-and I don’t think this is fair.”

“Fair? My life isn’t fair. This is hardly /that/.”

“But he’s a good person! And I know he’s sorry for it all now. There are so many other things to be fighting right now. We shouldn’t fight each other!”

Roxas narrowed his eyes. They reflected the stars so clearly. Is that what Sora looked like, soft and vulnerable? Surely not as hardened. He tried not to be. He tried to not let things seep in the way they did for Roxas.

“You’re right,” Roxas finally said. “I just… it’s easier to be mad. He was terrible. DiZ was worse. I was never supposed to exist, remember? No one had to treat me like I was someone because I wasn’t anyone, so they didn’t. I shouldn’t even be mad.”

Sora laid down on his back, putting his hands under his head. “No, I think it’s okay that you’re mad. As long as you move on from it.”

Roxas looked down at him. “I’ll… try. Don’t expect me to be rushing into Riku’s arms or something. Pretty sure he still doesn’t like me regardless of how I would treat him.”

“You haven’t given him a chance. Trust me, beneath all that broodiness and hair, he’s got a real good heart.”

Roxas gave a small nod. A concession, of sorts. Maybe, a step forward.

But only maybe.

#kingdom hearts #sora #roxas #riku #my fic #if you read it consider reblogging instead of just liking #or do both!

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aliceslantern · 6 years ago

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Beyond this Existence: Counterpoint, a Kingdom Hearts fanfic, chapter 3

Summary: After being recompleted, Ienzo vows to do everything in his power to atone for the atrocities he committed in the past. But this life hasn't been easy, and he's plagued with memories and nightmares. When Demyx suddenly reappears, the two discover that they have more in common than they thought, though the secrets in their past might tear them apart. Zemyx (Demyx/Ienzo), post kh3

Read it on FF.net/ on AO3

He spent another night half-awake, curled under the old covers of his bed. As much as Ienzo tried to rest, and calm himself, his mind would not stop whirring. He could not help but think about Demyx’s panic attack in relation to his own anxiety. To know he was not alone was a comfort, but a cold one, at that. Demyx did not shield his emotions or thoughts the way the others did, and while Zexion had found this grating, Ienzo did not. He was growing tired of the facades, he realized.

When dawn finally came he went through his usual routine of bathing and dressing, and sat to eat. Normally during his morning meals he tried to brush up on his studies, because the last frantic weeks of Zexion’s life in the castle had left him too busy drawing up tactics and manipulating Riku. He was actually reading a rather fascinating text on the neuroscience behind autism, and as Ienzo had long suspected he was on some part of the spectrum, it helped him understand himself better.

This morning was different. Instead, he checked the posts on the gummiphone. Originally he’d intended the photo posting program to focus as a way to share data and reconnaissance, but quickly it had been claimed by scenic photos, silly self-portraits, and inexplicably (though, he had to admit, compellingly) photos of food. There hadn’t been new posts in a long time, so he checked them.

Little Chef’s food. A picture of Xion and Naminé by the ocean in Destiny Islands. Terra and Ven sparring playfully. Aqua relaxing with a spellcasting book. (Ienzo did miss magic dearly.)

Sora, with a young woman with an incredible amount of blonde hair. Sora, posing with a lucky emblem. An unflattering photo of Donald. Goofy and Sora flexing their muscles with Hercules. Sora, with his arm around Kairi, and the caption, keybuddies! So proud of her for completing her training.

Looking at the posts was no longer so appealing. Ienzo again felt that ache in his chest, and found himself blinking a little too rapidly. This was grief, he realized, at least a shade of it. He hadn’t let himself fully process what Sora’s disappearance and Kairi’s death meant. He’d enjoyed helping Sora, and the others. And while they weren't friends, exactly, it was hard not to feel something about such a bright light being extinguished.

Aeleus entered the kitchen. “Ienzo,” he said by way of greeting.

Ienzo put his gummiphone away. “Aeleus. Good morning.”

He got himself some tea and sat across from Ienzo at the small table. “Things have settled in town,” Aeleus said.

Of all his bonds with the other apprentices, his relationship with Aeleus had perhaps changed the least. They’d remained close in the Organization, especially when Zexion was still small. Lexaeus had often accompanied him on missions, defending him before he was powerful and strong enough to go out on his own. “It has, hasn’t it?”

“We scarcely seem to need to keep a patrol. Nobody comes near. Heartless, neither.”

“Perhaps you can get on with your research.”

Aeleus shook his head. “My time with that has passed.”

“In a way, I envy you. But I wouldn’t know what to do with myself.”

“You’re resourceful. You’d find something.”

“...I suppose.” He traced the rim of his mug with a finger.

“Something is on your mind,” Aeleus said.

“Everyone keeps saying that,” Ienzo said. “I must be doing a poor job of controlling my expression. I couldn’t help but think of Sora. And his poor, poor friend Kairi.”

“Xehanort’s death had a price.”

“An incredibly expensive one,” Ienzo said sourly. “All this chaos for one man--and it’s not even over.”

“Such is the way, when you tie yourself so heavily to fate.”

“I don’t believe in fate,” Ienzo said. “I’m surprised you do.”

Aeleus shrugged. “After all I’ve seen? It’s hard not to believe.”

“...Things have come together a little too neatly,” Ienzo conceded. “That’s the power of the will. As Ansem would say.” He stood. “I need to go to the library before I continue my work. I’ll see you later, I’m sure.”

“Yes,” Aeleus said.

The various libraries in the castle had always been refuges for Ienzo, but the main library was especially of note, with the massive collections from other worlds, as well as ancient artifacts from Radiant Garden’s own history. Most seemed to have survived the fall, in their sturdy shadow cases. The chairs here were also the most comfortable, and this library had the most light. It seemed to be least hit by the overall decay of the castle, though everything needed a good cleaning. As he picked up titles he thought might be helpful, he wiped his dusty palms on his jacket, and it became quite dingy.

To his surprise, as he passed the history section on the way to the lab, he saw Demyx feverishly scanning the titles. “What is it you’re looking for in here?” he asked.

Demyx looked up suddenly, like he was coming out of a daydream. “I was trying to find something about the age of fairy tales. I want to know more about that time.”

Ienzo frowned. He’d figured that Demyx would have been after music theory or something cultural, not that. “That sort of thing is oral history,” he said. “There are very, very few printed volumes that survive from that time. Ansem may be a collector of rare books, but even he could never get his hands on something like that. Why is it you ask?” Ienzo himself knew very little aside from the old stories everyone had been told as a child. Of course he was aware that some of these legends had played into Xehanort’s plan, but if that were the case, why on earth was Demyx looking into it? His eyes were still very much teal, no trace of gold. Ienzo hadn’t had any reason to distrust him before now. He realized he didn’t want to be wary of Demyx.

He laughed a little. “I was just bored, is all. Wanted to know more about what I just got myself out of.”

He nodded. That much made sense. “It’s unfortunate, but a lot of history from that time is just… lost and shadowed in legend. Perhaps that’s why Xehanort was trying to recreate the Keyblade war. Perhaps he wanted to understand it for himself.”

“Maybe,” he said. He looked disappointed.

Ienzo shifted the books in his arms slightly. “Ansem might know more. He studied quite a bit of mythology when he began his experiments. I could ask him for you. I admit, I’ve never seen you become intellectually involved in anything.”

A hint of pink crept into his cheeks. “I just want to know.”

Ienzo frowned. “Are you quite alright?”

“Yeah. I mean, no. I’m just…” Demyx exhaled. “Trying to figure things out. And I have no idea where to start. I don’t even have my sitar. I don’t really have much of anything. And I’m not meant to be here.”

Ienzo blinked. He couldn’t help but feel a tad suspicious. “Not… meant…?”

“Face it. I’m just here because you are all too nice to get rid of me. None of you even like me. I don’t share a past with you, and I’m not a scientist.” An injured edge crept into Demyx’s voice, but Ienzo couldn’t help but feel a bit relieved. So that was the matter, not some… plan that got derailed. How paranoid of him to even think that.

“Do you really judge your own worth using others’ opinions?” He asked. He could recall--quite vividly--times he had overheard people telling Demyx off, the harshness of their voices. Zexion had occasionally been part of it too, though more subtly. His backhanded comments has always seemed to roll off of Demyx. There were too many to count, really. And considering Demyx’d also joined the Organization in his formative years, of course that was having an effect on his psyche.

He looked down. “Of course I do. How can you not?”

Ienzo couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. The feeling sat oddly in his breast. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry you haven’t felt welcome.”

His eyes were glassy. He was more upset than Ienzo had thought. He didn’t know how to comfort him and started to feel nervous. It would not be good for one of them to be unstable. “I have nowhere else to go,” Demyx said, and then, evasively, “I didn’t mean to dump this on you.”

“It doesn’t bother me,” Ienzo said quickly.

“It’s okay. You don’t have to lie. I’m not your problem.” He tried to smile, and Ienzo could see how much energy it took. “I’ll let you get back to your work.”

Ienzo again watched him walk away, unable to find anything of value to say to fix it. He wanted so badly to be a good person, but how could he do so when he couldn’t even provide anyone else with the slightest comfort? He held his books still tighter. Maybe there was something he could do.

He did not go immediately to the lab. He went, instead, back to Ansem’s quarters and knocked.

“Come in,” Ansem said. He was at his writing desk, composing what seemed to be a letter. “Oh, hello, Ienzo. What is it you’ve got there?”

“Books irrelevant to the matter at hand,” he said. “Can you give me a general summary of what you know of the age of fairy tales?”

He set down his pen. “Of course I can, but why do you ask? Do you think this could help with Sora?”

“Perhaps, but also… well, Demyx asked me, and I became aware of the gaps in my own knowledge.” He set down the books he had and moved closer to Ansem. He was losing strength; even carrying those few volumes, his arms felt tight.

“I wonder why,” Ansem said, with an edge of suspicion.

“I was a little dubious too, but I do not think there’s anything uncouth about it. To be fair, Xehanort did rely heavily on legends.”

“Yes, that’s right. No doubt the resonances of being a vessel have left him shaken. I’m afraid I don’t have any texts, but I do have a few volumes of fairy tales themselves in the study. You’re free to take a look, but be careful with them. They’re quite old.”

“Yes, Master. I know. Thank you.”

“And let me know if you need my assistance in the lab. I’ve been catching up on my letter writing, but I could use a break.” He smiled kindly.

“Yes. Of course.”

The study was really just code for yet another library, albeit full of Ansem’s most heavily curated texts, as well as many of the ones he’d written himself. Ienzo scanned over the familiar titles until he found what he was looking for. The children’s books were bound in blue linen with a silver embossing, with clear plastic wrapping to protect them. He sat on the floor and scanned the pages. The memory came unbidden--

Sitting as a little boy in Ansem’s lap in the rocking chair by the window, listening to him read these very same stories in that low, soothing voice, feeling him gently stroke Ienzo’s hair and a sense of everything being alright in the world--

For a moment he had to shut the book and bit down hard on the emotion welling within him. There was no word for it other than bittersweet . He was grown now, and should not want childish things. He wanted Ansem’s respect again, to truly feel it. He wanted to feel as safe and, yes, as loved.

These thoughts are not productive.

He continued to scan through the volumes, but found nothing that satisfied him. They were all fictionalized parables, meant to teach lessons to children about being selfless and not trusting strangers. Nothing about the Keyblade war in these volumes. Was one missing?

Ienzo sighed and began replacing the books. A faint breeze caught a vein of dust, and he coughed, momentarily thrown off balance. It was only for this reason that he found himself looking at the now-empty bottom shelf. A sheaf of papers was lodged between the upper shelf and the bookcase’s back wall. Ienzo gently pulled the shelf forward, cursing his physical weakness. The sheaf fell with a faint crinkle. He pulled it out and hastily replaced the children’s books.

How peculiar.

The paper was clearly very, very old; the only reason it hadn’t deteriorated entirely was because it was a sort of linen hybrid. The text on the title page was not written in his language, but runes that predated the World’s current written alphabet. His breath caught on a little thrill of excitement. Possibly Ansem didn’t even know it was here; it could have been left by one of his predecessors.

This would obviously require translation. He wouldn’t be able to understand it now. Still, Ienzo could not help but crack open the first page, lifting it as delicately as possible.

There was text. A lot of it. But more than that there was music. Staff paper had been hand-penciled in, if the slight wobbles of the otherwise straight lines meant anything. Ienzo knew the gist of reading music--Ansem had taught it to him, aware of how it improved math skills--but this was beyond his comprehension. Notes cluttered the page, swooping in complicated trills.

There were more runes written under all this, functioning as a lyrical line. Ienzo had few characters fully memorized, but one pair caught his eye.

Keyblade.

Another little thrill of excitement went through him. How convenient--how coincidental--it was that the only person in this castle who wasn’t a scientist was a master musician.

He had an idea.

Demyx was in the kitchen, listlessly picking at a bowl of old soup.

Ienzo approached him. “There you are. I was hoping I’d see you around. I asked Ansem about the age of fairy tales. He doesn’t have any texts, but after some digging, I found this. He doesn’t know I took it from his library. He’s been… somewhat unobservant lately.”

Demyx looked at the papers, a puzzled expression on his face. “What is it?”

Despite himself, he was feeling real eagerness to discover what was in this project. It was rare, perhaps one of a kind. “I only saw the first page, so I’m not quite certain. Perhaps we may look at it together. Come to think of it, somebody should create some record of that time. We can’t repeat history a third time.”

“I smell a new project for you,” Demyx said. There was a guarded cautiousness to the way he spoke.

He sat down. “Yes. Perhaps. When I am done helping Ansem.”

“What is Ansem doing?”

Ienzo realized he was referring to the project as Ansem’s, even though it was his idea. He had to stop doing that. “He’s trying to help Sora.”

Demyx flinched a little. Ienzo remembered that it was Sora who took his Nobody down, and felt awkward. “What’s wrong with him?”

“He’s vanished. He overstretched his power… and disappeared from this world entirely. Ansem is hoping that something in our old research might help the guardians of light find him. I am not so sure. You can only meddle with the forces in this world so much before there are natural, irreversible consequences. The guardians are… naturally quite cut up about it. He and I had formed something of a rapport as well. As much as I wish for him to be whole… I don’t want to give myself false hope.”

Demyx seemed unsure of how to react. “Whoa.”

An understatement. “There’s never a moment wasted in researching,” Ienzo said. “For all I know, there’s some clue in these papers. And I think you can help me.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Me? What happened to “I’ve never seen you intellectually interested in anything?””

Now that he was hearing it out loud, he realized that Demyx had heard that phrase as an insult, and he felt bad. Maybe this would make it up to him. “Have a look.” He pushed the score towards him and opened the first age. “While my scientific education has been excellent, admittedly it is somewhat lacking in the arts. I only have the most basic skills when it comes to music theory. This… seems more up your alley.”

Demyx’s eyes widened a little. He touched the papers gently, almost with a sort of reverence. Ienzo noticed with relief that the fear in his eyes had subsided a little. He gestured to the lyrical line.

“They’re ancient runes. I’ve studied them a little. But I recognize the characters for “Keyblade”, and they’re in there,” Ienzo explained.

Demyx kept reading. There was an intensity, a focus in his gaze that Ienzo had never seen before.

“I need an instrument,” he said. “It’s too complex to sing.”

“There’s an old piano in Ansem’s quarters. We can have Aeleus and Dilan move it to an empty study space. I’m sure it’ll need tuning.”

“I can do that.” He nodded, a small smile growing on his face. “I’m in.”

Ienzo couldn’t help but smile back.

#beyond this existence: counterpoint #ienzo #demyx #zemyx #demyx/ienzo #beyond this existence

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mysticdragon3md3 · 3 years ago

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Stayed up all night and practically wrote several essays, trying to convince myself to not/buy KH3 Nendo Kairi. Sorry, Kairi. Maybe if you weren't $62. Maybe if you were KH2 version. But as it is, spending that much, after also preordering other things, including a more expensive Nendo Aqua,...I just can't spend that much on a KH3 Nendo Kairi without feeling guilty. Sorry, completionism. But $62 is too high.

12:23 AM 6/22/2021

Yknow what?

If I had the choice between only having money for a 2nd Nendo Joker or a 2nd Nendo England, I'd choose Joker in a heartbeat. So what am I trying so hard to decide here? Do not preorder Hetalia World Stars version Nendo UK! Even though he's blond, you haven't had need of that. And if you really needed him blond in a photo, you could Photoshop him! but let's be serious, people want to see authentic Nendos in photoshoots, and his non-blond hair will mark him as authentic. So you don't get called a bootleg buyer! But what do you care what others think? You care that Nendo England looks like the England from your nostalgia...and for that, you need blond. And I can do that through Photoshop. Because seriously, you've barely used or looked at your current Nendo UK, you haven't been compelled/obsessed with more USUK photoshoots, you haven't even been playing with Nendos US UK much. YOU WOULD NOT EVEN _NOTICE_ IF YOU HAD 2 NENDO UK. You only need one. Your Nendo US doesn't even have sandy blond hair like your anime nostalgia! So what does it matter if UK is off-color!?! ...It matters because you have a chance to get proper-color UK hair. But I don't want to spend all this money. When I first saw this figure announcement for Hetalia World Stars version Nendo UK, my immediate thought was that I don't feel the need to have 2 Nendo UK. I already barely play with the one I have. It wasn't until I realized this 2nd edition Nendo UK has blond hair, that I started thinking I had to have it. But if that's the only reason, then I don't really need to. I don't actually have such an intense need to have it. I've barely had an intense need (anymore) to have my current Nendo UK. So I definitely don't need a 2nd one. And if saving my money on this, will allow me to get possibly a better Nendoroid later, well then, this is an opportunity to revisit that "lost battle" where I wasted money on Bayonetta, 2B, etc---*This* time, I could win that "battle". And then maybe in the future, there'll be a 2nd Joker Nendo or Nendos for Claude and Dimitri! *o* In any case, so many figures end up in the Available Now section, that blond Nendo UK will probably end up there. Or, if you're worried to not have a blond UK ready if GSC later releases a properly sandy-blond Nendo US, then I'm sure if they ever announced a 2nd Nendo Amerrica, then they'd re-release the Nendo UKs. This is not even your last chance, you might have extra money to afford a 2nd Nendo UK in the future, but for sure you know, you don't have the money to waste on a 2nd Nendo UK _right now_. So don't. Save your money for that hypothetical 2nd Nendo Joker in his school uniform, or Nendo Dimitri and Claude, or whatever gets announced from the Nendoroid Select '21 survey results. Remember, that still needs to get announced. So, no on preordering Hetalia World Stars version Nendoroid UK.

As for Kairi...Let's be honest (again). I haven't been obsessed with Kingdom Hearts in years. And even when I was, Kairi was barely in them. I don't have that much of an attachment to Kairi. Even though Oathkeeper is my favorite Keyblade because it came from Kairi, sometimes I fear that emotional impact was more the effectiveness of that plot point in that moment of the first game, more than a reflection of my attachment to Kairi. I have attachments to Riku and Sora. When their Nendoroids were announced, I preordered ALL of them right away. Even though I didn't really like KH2 Sora's outfit. Even though it pained my wallet to buy 3 pairs of the same characters, back to back. Even after all these years, those 2 were the characters I was sure of feeling attachment towards. I can't keep judging whether to buy Kairi's KH3 Nendo, based on possible attachments I might feel towards Kairi in KH3. Because I've had that game for months and I still haven't even opened the case yet! O~o! That should be my strongest indicator of my attachments towards Kairi and willingness to buy Nendos for her, especially KH3 Nendos of her. Admit it: Your KH nostalgia is all wrapped up with KH2, Birth by Sleep, and earlier. I shouldn't be making $62 purchase decisions for Kairi, based on KH3---a game that I'm apparently no longer interested in enough to play immediately. Not getting KH3 Kairi's Nendo feels bad as a completionist and as someone who has real life personal attachments to sibling-like groups of 3 friends. But I knew when she was announced that I still preferred her KH2 look, because I've just always liked long(er) hair. And I love her dress in KH2. Yes, I have to gamble on GSC eventually announcing a KH2 Nendo Kairi, and then when I get her, all my "groups of 3 friends" figure photoshoots will be limited to Sora, Riku, and Kairi's KH2 depictions...even though I don't really like KH2 Sora's look...But am I even that compelled to take photos of Sora/Riku/Kairi in the first place? I barely take pics of my current, KH1 Sora/Riku Nendos right now. But if KH3 is my last Kingdom Hearts game (even if my status is still to "eventually" play it), wouldn't I want Sora/Riku/Kairi's last depiction in my memories to be what I own as Nendoroids? I mean, it would be the perfect end-cap image to the series for me. And Square said that KH3 is the end of the Xehanort Saga or something. It's the end cap. ---There I go, basing a Nendoroid purchase on a game I haven't even played yet, while I ALSO already know I prefer Kairi's KH2 look. Y'know what? What if they do eventually release a KH2 Kairi, a KH1 Kairi, even Terra and Ven as Nendoroids? They'll definitely choose some previous Nendos to re-release alongside them! And if they release another version of Kairi, then guess what? The re-release will be KH3 Kairi. And maybe by then, I'll have the money for this. Or at least, the results for the Nendoroids Select '21 survey would have been released by then, and then I can know whether my money can go towards a character I want more, or towards a KH3 Kairi re-release. I mean, it'd be different if Kairi played a bigger role in KH3, and though I've been staying away from most spoilers, I did hear that she got sidelined AGAIN. And sure, it seems she might be the protagonist of the upcoming rhythm game, but I may not get that. I'm stopping at KH3, remember? So if she's getting sidelined in KH3 again and in the rhythm game, she's like asleep or something, reminiscing, just being used as the overall story's framing device,...then that doesn't sound like a lot of screentime for me to get attached to her. I mean, when I was younger, I thought Kairi did a lot in KH2, but I didn't cry when she reunited with Sora, I cried when Sora and Riku reunited. (I don't even ship those babies! LOL) ---I feel really bad writing all this to convince myself that I don't like Kairi enough to spend $62 on her. It's not like I hate her. I don't even *dislike* her! I LIKE her!!!! It's just...I've been retroactively organizing my Nendoroid

inventory lately, and I've been seeing all the money I've wasted on figures that I only bought out of completionism, that made me cringe inside at the pain this would cause my wallet, because I didn't love the character enough to jump and thrash in my chair with excitement, when I saw their figure announcements and "DAMN THE COST!"... If KH3 Kairi Nendo can't make me feel that way, then I shouldn't be buying her.

There's a perfect counter example in this month's preorder interests!!! I wasn't expecting Pop Up Parade Kikyo! I don't even like static scale figures! I like articulated figures! And chibi too! Pop Up Parade isn't either of those things! And I haven't been a fan of Inuyasha in years! I haven't been obsessing over anything Rumiko Takahashi in years! But when I saw Kikyo's Pop Up Parade announced, I knew I had to buy her. I jumped up and thrashed in my chair. I gasped. I uttered "ohmygawd" over and over like I was losing my mind. Even now, I occasionally browse her announcement pics, just to admire my waifu some more. That's how ALL my figure preorders should make me feel.

And I don't feel that way about KH3 Nendo Kairi.

And I don't feel that way about Hetalia World Stars version Nendo UK/England.

I kind of want to be suspicious if Nendo Aqua makes me feel that way, but what's there to be suspicious about? I'm too attached to her. The majority of my favorite cosplay memories are attached through her. On top of that, her character design is so pretty! She qualifies as what I call in my figure collecting, a "beauty piece", a figure whose design or sculpt is so pretty, that whether I even know the character/series is negligible for me to enjoy owning that figure. Aqua's got that AND she's endeared herself to me. Plus, she's a nice character. I got invested in her BBS story, her 0.2 story, and curiosity about her in KH3 is a big part of why I never concede that I'll someday play that game. I like Aqua. And her character design is pretty. I shouldn't feel guilty about preordering her Nendoroid this month. Even if a future hypothetical Ky Kiske Nendoroid gets announced in the possible future, I would gladly spend money on both Aqua and Ky. I'd make my budget work.

So, sounds like I'm preordering:

Pop Up Parade Kikyo

Nendoroid Aqua

and that's it.

1:37 AM 6/22/2021

Y'know the funny thing is that I feel like if GSC did announce a KH2 Kairi, I'd want KH3 Kairi too. ...She is pretty cute... Damn it. This wouldn't be such a problem if she wasn't $62!!!!!

Looking back through my Nendoroid Inventory, most of my 2017 Nendoroids were under $40! That's because the currency exchange rate was to our advantage. Because the US$ was stronger vs the yen back then, we got everything pretty much at least $5 off! But now we buy from GSC Shop US, and their prices don't account for currency exchange rate changes. (But can I justify switching back to preordering from GSC's international shop, when they have $20 shipping vs GSC US's $3/figure shipping, and we're still in a pandemic so I should limit my purchases to as local as possible? I feel like especially in the pandemic, I have to stick to the GSC US shop.) A 4000yen Nendo isn't $35.30 like it was for me in 2017. Now a 4000yen Nendo is probably like $40 at GSC Shop US. Hold on...Browsing through the GSC international online shop...Even the simple Nendos, like this Nendoroid Steven A Starphase, just a guy in a suit, is already 6930yen! These Bofuri Nendo preorders right now? BOTH ARE 6600YEN EACH!!! In 2017, I got the freaking special edition harvest moon Kagamine Len and Rin Nendoroids for $35.30 each!. I thought that maybe Square was charging GSC extra licensing fees since they would prefer to make money off their own figure lines (Play Arts Kai, Bring Arts, Play Arts Mini, etc.). But it seems like Nendoroids are just more expensive in 2021. O______________O!!!!!!!!!!!! In 2017/2018, even the freaking Madoka Magica maiko version Nendoroids were only $42.36, $43.99, $39.71! And those had so many tiny printed floral details! And accessories! O~o! Same for my detailed Touken Ranbu and KanColle Nendoroids back then! O_O!?!?!???????!!!??????????? Nendoroids are just going to be more expense now. Wow.

I guess the important thing is that if I buy Nendo Kairi, that when it comes time to unbox her, I don't get that sickly unboxing feeling in my stomach, where I can't believe I spent money on this. Like, Kiso is cool, but I don't know her and I'm certainly not obsessed with her. I shouldn't have bought her, especially for over $50. Same with the Akizuki sisters. Probably same with Shoukaku, though she seemed nice in the anime. And certainly the lack of attachment applies to my Nendoroid Iowa. More than half my Touken Ranbu Nendoroids, I bought without really knowing their characters. Half of them, I bought just to prove to Good Smile Company, the demand for male figures. Soon after those first few TouRabu toudans, GSC announced their Orange Rouge line: "Good Smile Company and Max Factory's brand dedicated to male character figures and goods." And yeah, I'm super sentimental enough that even though I didn't really know these characters, now that they're in my collection, they're MINE, they're my precious little tsukumogami babies, whom I wouldn't trade away, no matter how much my finances complain. Plus, I have so much anxiety, that selling/trading is too much stress for me. If my reluctant and failed attempts to sell the lesser parts of my manga collection at swap meets have proven, is that even if I wasn't obsessed with the thing I collected, and even if I have an easy opportunity to get rid of them, WHILE making money in doing so,...I still just can't do it. That's why I threw away all my Nendoroids' packaging plastics when I ran out of storage room for them. I knew I was too chicken and too sentimental to ever sell any of my Nendoroids. Even the ones that gave me that sickly unboxing feeling in my stomach, thinking about the $50+ money I wasted.

---Even when I could have instead been spending it on Nendoroids of characters I actually love! What if a school uniform Nendo Joker gets announced? Or a Nendoroid Claude and Dimitri? What about Nendoroids for Ky, Sol, Lady, Lelouch, Rukia, etc.??? Sure, I can squeeze things into my budget right now. But if that time comes later, when I'll want a Nendo schoolboy Joker or a Nendo Rukia, and I don't have the money for them, will a Nendoroid KH3 Kairi have been worth it? I mean, I already prefer her KH2 look over her KH3 look. Why do I have to care if I don't have a matching Kairi to my Sora/Riku Nendos in my figure photos? Why do I have to be so completionist about this? People will understand that not everyone can afford matching Nendoroids. Hell, my Nendo America and Nendo England don't match! One is from Hetalia World Stars! The other is from Hetlaia The World Twinkle! No one cares! What's important is that I have the 2 characters from my ship in the same pic or the same shelf! No one cares if they match! If I prefer KH2 Kairi, then I should hold-out for her and then take goddamn pictures of her with KH3 Sora/Riku if I want! Hell, I prefer KH2 Riku's look too! I'll just swap out Sora and take pics of KH2 Riku with KH2 Kairi, and KH3 Sora! ...That is, if GSC eventually makes a KH2 Nendo Kairi.

omg I'm going in circles again. I need a snack break.

8:15 AM 6/22/2021

I'm too tired now to remember all the thoughts I wrote about and thought through. x~x;

8:43 AM 6/22/2021

If I skipped KH3 Nendoroid Kairi, would I even miss her? I mean, before, I was so hung up on my Nendo UK not being blond, but now I realize that I barely even think about that, nor even often think of that Nendoroid itself, very often. Hardly ever, actually. Will it be similar with Kairi? I mean,I don't look at my KH1 Sora/Riku Nendo and lament about how I don't have a KH1 Kairi Nendo to go with them. I actually don't really like Kairi's KH1 look. I guess I only really like her KH2 look. So why not hold out for KH2 Kairi Nendoroid possibly being announced in the future? But what if they never make a Nendo Kairi besides this KH3 Kairi, and I miss out on this one and only Kairi, while holding out for a Nendo of KH2Kairi? I hate gambling. But if I skipped KH3 Nendo Kairi now, would I even miss her?.......... She's $62 and I should save my money.

10:12 AM 6/22/2021

I think you should buy figures that you feel good about spending $62 on. Figures that you don't feel guilty about buying. If Nendoroid KH3 Kairi makes you feel guilty, like $62 is not worth it or too much, then don't buy her. Wait for a KH2 Nendo Kairi that will make you feel good to spend on.

But I feel so bad to pass her up! Ugh! This is so hard! ;o;

10:30 AM 6/22/2021

Funny the clarity you can have while brushing and flossing your teeth. If I feel bad spending $62 on Nendo KH3 Kairi, then she must not mean that much to me. She's not worth $62 to me.

I remember when I first saw her announced at WonHobby and I felt safe from needing to buy her. I even commented on GSC's Twitter, that my suddenly finding her cute, threatened my original security and certainty in knowing I didn't feel compelled to buy her.

Remember:

1) Don't buy based on predicted attachments to a character in a game you haven't played yet. I haven't played KH3 yet.

2) If Kairi changes my mind after I play KH3, then she'll probably get a re-release later anyway.

3) When you first saw KH3 Nendo Kairi, your first thought wasn't that I needed her. It was that I felt secure that I didn't need her.

4) You don't have money to spare for a Nendo you're unsure about liking to the worth of $62. Because you didn't expect a Pop Up Parade Kikyo nor her unexpected costs, even if it is relatively cheap. And you still need enough money for a $65 Nendo Aqua. You don't have enough money for any half-certain, hesitating likes towards KH3 Kairi Nendoroid.

5) Other people are skipping KH3 Nendo Kairi even though they also want to buy her.

(https://twitter.com/guttural/status/1406709434592735237) "I want her, but I'm so broke and already ordered the Axel and Roxas Nendos ;_;"

10:38 AM 6/22/2021

I'm going to tell Kuya, I don't need Nendo KH3 Kairi. And then I'm going to forget I was even considering buying her. KH2 and KH3 Sora/Riku Nendoroids are going to come in, and I won't even miss her. Just like I do now, with my KH1 Sora/Riku Nendoroids. And I will wait for a KH2 Nendo Kairi. And when she does get announced, I'll preorder her without regret, because I prefer that character design.

2:33 AM 6/28/2021

I really wanted to get Swacchao Nendoroid Hinata. I was originally just going to get the Swacchao parts since I already have the full Nendoroid Hinata Shoyo. I didn't need a seated Hinata, but as a completionist and Hinata fan, I thought I SHOULD get Swacchao Hinata, or at least the seated Swacchao parts.

But then I had this idea that when I return to an office job, it'd be so nice to have Nendoroid Swacchao Hinata at my desk with me. I had had ideas before about bringing a Nendoroid or 2 to my next office job. I even bought Nendoroid Aoba Suzukaze for that reason. (She's an "office lady" and her accessories include dialogue bubbles of her shouting about doing her best. I thought it'd be really encouraging to have at work.) But I was worried about leaving an actual Nendoroid at my desk, overnight. Would I pack up my desk's Nendoroid(s) each night before I clocked out? Impractical. Should I only use Nendoroids of characters I don't care too much about, to decorate my office desk? But if it's not a character I love, then how is their presence encouraging? And being encouragaing is the entire point of desk decor at a soul-killing job. But then here are these Nendoroid Swacchao Hinata Shoyo announcements! Less than $30! I could have a character I love, from an explicitly encouraging series, and being essentially a dupliate of a Nendoroid I already have, I shouldn't worry too much about him getting stolen from any desk of mine.

But I just can't justify buying a duplicate of a character I already have. I was already cutting out Kageyama and Yuuji from my preorder candidates. I'm in the middle of cataloging my Nendoroid inventory and fully realizing how much money I've wasted on Nendoroids of characters I didn't know, barely knew, liked but didn't love, duplicates of characters I already had, etc. It had to stop. So no Swacchao Kageyama for me. And if we're being honest about my terrible spending, then I really shouldn't be getting either type of Swacchao Hinata either. No more duplicates of characters. ;_; No matter how much I want them. ;_____;

#wallet dying #figure collecting #processing thoughts #please ignore my idiocy #venting

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avale-reves · 5 years ago

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Dude, you’re just full of incorrect information. Like, I’m actually kind of astounded, where did you even think you heard all this stuff that you claim as fact?

“It’s explicitly stated that the only reason she hasn’t disappeared is because Repliku is refusing to let her.“

No, it literally is not ‘explicitly stated’. Nothing like that is said anywhere in the game. And it’s not even stated in Nomura interviews. Yes Repliku held deep feelings for her and his big final push was to help save her. But nowhere is it stated that his refusal is why she persists in the Final World.

“According to Nomura, the second game that Eraqus and Xehanort play in the epilogue is AFTER both have died, “

Again... no he didn’t? He didn’t say anything like that. The most he has said about that scene was that the new game is setting up the next saga, but at no point does he say that that scene is taking place after they’ve both died, or that they’re in some “custom-made” heaven.

—In the last part of the epilogue, seven black pieces are brought out to be used in a new game. Do six of those represent the six apprentices of the Master of Masters?

Nomura: Yes.

—Who is the remaining one?

Nomura: It's… someone you may be able to guess, but it's a secret.

—So, is Sora the white piece?

Nomura: Well, maybe… Either way, the epilogue is hinting at what is to come after the Dark Seeker Saga.

Like, where in that do you get “the chess scene is happening post-death”?

Like, I can see how someone could possibly interpret it to be some sort of afterlife thing maybe, but that by no means = that is actually what is factually happening, because so far, there is nothing to concretely state that at all. The chess game throughout the game was a flashback, and there is currently no reason to think that the scene of the new game isn’t just happening after that one concluded.

I think you really need to check your sources because they are just filling you with misinformation and it seems clear you’re just clinging to your initial gut reactions/understandings of things.

“Plus, plenty of Disney Villains have gone down screaming and they haven’t returned.”

Oh you mean like how they were all easily resurrected in KH2 after their demise? Oogie Boogie, Ursula?

“And also bear in mind that Young Xehanort’s exact words were “I never lose” hinting that he didn’t consider Eraqus to truly be victorious “

Nope, you’re misreading that line. Eraqus is saying Xehanort never admits it when he loses and Xehanort replies “that’s because I never lose”. What he means is that all those times it looks like he had lost he didn’t consider him actually losing because there was a way for him to keep going, so he did. Now that he has actually been defeated once and for all, he is able to accept his loss and concede simply. The scene isn’t suggesting that Xehanort thinks he hadn’t lost this time either, because he already admits in the scene that he had.

“That was the exact moment in the past where Xehanort realized that, if he wanted to change anything, he couldn’t play fair. That wasn’t showing off his redeeming qualities, that was his start of darkness.“

Gurl this is such a fucking reach in terms of bad faith interpretation, I’m actually like astounded.

“Also, he went from wanting to overthrow the “tyranny of light” and restoring balance to the worlds to “Despite preaching about the supremacy of darkness and how much better off we’d all be with more of it, I actually wanted to rid the worlds of darkness all along!”. If that’s not OOC, I don’t know what is.”

Again, a misinterpretation of what he’s saying. Xehanort is claiming that the World is doomed to repeat a cycle where the weak let their darkness run rampant and unchecked which eventually will devour the World. His goal isn’t to get rid of all darkness or anything like that. His goal is to reset this “doomed” World, and then control the new one to such a degree that the World won’t fall to endless darkness nor will it be a tyranny of light. But under his dictatorship it will be in balance.

I do get how one can misinterpret this bit more though as the English localization isn’t as clear as it probably needs to be.

“Then there’s the fact that his Younger Self had literally just revealed that he had been born evil, so…“

???? No??? He hadn’t??? Like if anything this game went out of its way to show that Xehanort wasn’t born evil. Why do you think his younger, non-time traveling, self has silver eyes instead of gold?

Like, I’m sorry dude, it’s clear you’re like... committed to your bad faith “kh3 sucks” interpretation and are allowing it to overpower how you’re interpreting things in the series. But you’re just like flat out wrong? And like all your claims here are either like factually wrong, or in the best case, are based in personal interpretation. And any time you’ve said something is explicitly stated, or said by Nomura, it just flat out isn’t true.

I’m probably not going to respond to this another time, if you do, just because I can already tell that we’re just going to be going in circles about this. But I implore you to reexamine your feelings and conclusions about this game. What was based on your initial emotional reaction, and what is actually there in the text. I also encourage you to read up on these post-game interviews Nomura has done so far because the sources you initially used or heard of or whatever were clearly no good.

Dengeki Post-Release Interview

Kingdom Hearts III Ultimania Main Interview

Kingdom Hearts III Ultimania Scenario Interview

xehanort accepting defeat and moving on is a necessity to him being gone for good. any ‘hard’ ending where he clung to it to the bitter end would have led to his heart persisting in the final world, leaving the door open for his return.

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aliceslantern · 7 years ago

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Nocturnal Memory, a Kingdom Hearts fanfiction, chapter 15

[Summary: Dying takes a lot out of you, it's true, but when Demyx wakes up for the first time since his fight with Sora nothing's right. His memories are fragmented and he's missing his true name. And he's not the only one. An incomprehensible mystery and an inevitable war make him question what, exactly, he would do to become whole, and reclaim the music lost to him.

on FF.net/on AO3]

Demyx's chest began to ache dully as he sat down in the meeting room. The talk had already started, so nobody really paid him any mind. Even Yuffie's gaze was milder than usual, more bored than hostile. He was too busy trying not to be noticed that he didn't see Sora until a few minutes later.

Sora didn't talk, and he barely seemed to be listening. His face looked drawn and exhausted, and he kept looking at the watch on his wrist. He caught Demyx's gaze and gave him half of a forced smile. Demyx looked away and saw Aeleus dabbing his sweaty forehead.

"So glad you joined us," Aerith said to Demyx. There didn't seem to be any irony or sarcasm in her voice. Then, to Aeleus, "I understand that there's been a lot going on over here. I'd like to take a look at that arm of yours."

"There's nothing more to be done," Even said before Aeleus could respond.

"If you say so," Aerith conceded. "Leon… where were we?"

"Sora was going to talk about his findings. Weren't you?" Leon prodded. Sora's head snapped up.

"What?"

"Your… your report, Sora?" He offered.

"Oh… right. That. Sorry. I'm pretty tired." He swallowed. "The reservoir is free of darkness. So are the labs. You guys should be okay getting back to work on the town."

Leon waited expectantly.

"That's pretty much it," Sora said. He fussed with his watch. "Pooh's doing great. Their world is one of the only ones that's untouched right now. As for everywhere else…" He paused. "You know, I'm not sure what else there is to do."

There was a lengthy and considerable silence. A pained expression twitched across Yuffie's face for a moment.

"What do you mean?" Leon asked. "Here? We're fine here."

"No. In general." Sora sat up. "I'm so… I keep following the vessels, you know. They have so many people on their side. They… they get convinced that darkness will help them, that it's worth fighting for. It spreads so much more quickly than I can undo. Even if I'm with Donald and Goofy. Even if I'm with Riku."

"…So we need to get ready to face the vessels," Lea said. Demyx noted his hesitation.

"No. Well, yes, but…" Sora paused again. "Even if they're gone… even if he's gone… I wonder if the poison he's spread will ever be able to be stopped. And we're just not ready for the fight. I know it has to happen eventually. But will we be ready before a lot of people get hurt?"

Yuffie slammed her hands on the table. "That's stupid! You're being stupid," she yelled at Sora. "We can always stop darkness. We've done it before again and again and we've always come back."

"I used to think the same. But now he reaches so far that we can't get a single move in edgewise. He knows everything. And nobody who seems to know can tell me his plan. Because if I know, then he'll know I know, and it's a big mess. And I… don't know what to do." Sora's hands tightened around his upper arms. "Guys, I don't know." His watch beeped and he groaned. "I have to go. Hey. I have to talk to you." He gestured to Demyx.

"Uh, now?"

Sora gestured for him to follow. They wandered out of earshot out of the rest of the group.

"You, uh, alright?" Demyx asked him.

"I'll be fine. I wish I could tell them that I can fix this. But I don't know how."

"And you're not used to that," he said without thinking.

Sora hesitated. "I'm sort of in a hurry," he said instead. "I wanted to apologize, first of all. Not just for… the fight. But for the other day. I hope the light helped you in a good way. I know I'm not exactly where I wanna be right now because of it. And I… I know you can help the town, with your power. All of you can. Please take care of them. I think… I think you guys could really help."

Demyx was almost dizzy with the surreality of what Sora was asking. "You mean fight with you?"

"If you want to. If it comes to that. I know it's weird and awkward and I'm asking a lot. But I wouldn't if I didn't have to."

He didn't know what to say.

Sora's watch beeped again. "Even if the answer's no, you should learn to fight anyway. Just to protect yourself. And now I'm really late!" He forced a smile and set off practically at a jog.

Demyx wandered back to the meeting room in a daze. His head was spinning, partially from the irony of what Sora had asked, mostly from bewilderment. Here was someone powerful needing him. It was an icky feeling.

The meeting had mostly broken up. Lea sauntered over to him. "What did Sora want?" He asked in a low voice.

Demyx told him in a few clipped sentences. "It's so… weird…"

"Whatever all of your choices end up being, he has a point," Lea said. "You've been wandering around town unprotected. I know it might feel safe, but I have a feeling it's gonna be a shitstorm."

He looked at his shoes. The sneakers were new to him, but worn. The toes were scuffed. "I don't think I know how. Aeleus was training me before, but that was like, so I didn't die. And I don't want to bother him more right now."

Lea smiled. It was empty. "You don't remember all the things you learned in Organization boot camp?" He laughed. "We can get together tomorrow, all right? Come to my district. Just bring yourself." He waved and headed off.

Demyx turned. He saw Yuffie and Leon talking in low voices, heatedly; Yuffie looked upset. Aerith saw him staring and smiled. "I'm so glad you're okay," she said. "We should have tea sometime."

"Sure," he said.

"Are you coming back to work soon? We've missed you."

He'd almost forgotten about the water project. "Yeah. I'm sorry. There's so much going on…."

"I completely understand." She touched his shoulder.

"It's not right, Squall!" Yuffie yelled. She left the room, her face drawn. Aerith sighed.

"Is she still mad?" she asked.

Leon closed his eyes. "She's always mad. This didn't help. I had hoped… that Sora would give us more to work with."

"You really can't blame him. He's a child. Anyone with half a mind can see he's burning out fast. He's doing his best with a complicated situation." She squeezed Leon's hand.

"I feel so helpless," Leon said. "Watching all this happen…"

"Me, too," Demyx offered. "But it sounds like the town needs you."

He nearly smiled. "You're right. I guess I'll see you soon, then."

The next morning, around midday, he slipped out of the castle and headed to Lea's.

He didn't know what to expect. Yes, Organization training had taught him the very basics, but not only was he rusty, he was weak. He'd never been much of a hand with weapons, and even though he knew disarming blows, they would all be virtually useless on anyone or anything he'd potentially fight. He felt ridiculous already.

Lea was waiting for him amongst the rubble, smoking a cigarette. "Morning." He climbed down. He'd pulled back most of his hair. "I've got something for you to borrow." He unclasped the brown holster around his waist. Demyx had never seen it before, but it was finely crafted—the leather burnished. Inside was a reasonably sized dagger, with a bone handle. The blade glinted blue in the light.

"Are you sure?" He asked.

"Of course. It was never really mine, anyway. I stole it from a pirate." He smiled. He took it back and held the knife up. "I musta been your age, I guess. One of our first missions to Port Royal. The dude was wasted and picking on some prostitute, so I knocked him out and stole all his stuff. I was so proud. But hey, I'm swimming in more than enough weapons." He laughed. "I know it looks delicate, but it's made of some improbable alloy. You need something small, anyway. I don't picture you with a sword. Your best bet is to be fast and sharp." He jabbed the dagger, then sheathed it.

He wasn't sure how to respond. "…I didn't realize you were such a connoisseur," he said.

"Nah, I just always had to know what I'm doing." He handed the weapon over, and Demyx slipped the holster around his waist. It felt awkward and heavy against his left hip. Lea stubbed out his cigarette.

"Thank you," he said, because it seemed necessary.

"Well, I didn't give it to you to look pretty." He summoned his Keyblade. "Let's get to work."

Demyx knew Lea was being easy on him. He was still getting his ass kicked. It was sundown, and the Keyblade was at his throat. Again.

"Better. You almost had me that time," Lea said. He fussed with his hair.

"You're lying," Demyx said, dragging himself up again, almost catching his hand on the knife. Damn thing. He would probably hurt himself more than anyone else.

"I really mean it."

He flexed his neck. He was more or less covered in bruises, and he could already tell how sore he'd be in a few hours. "Sure."

"Well, you are doing great. For a beginner." He stretched.

"Do you ever get tired of it?" Demyx asked, sheathing the knife. His shirt was stuck to him with sweat. He hated feeling grimy like this, unkempt. It made him feel less in control.

Lea yawned. "What do you mean?"

"Fighting."

He considered this. "Let's get a damn drink."

They returned to Lea's house. A swath of paperwork covered the table, but before Demyx could read it, Lea cleared it away and crammed it on one of the shelves.

"For the record, I'm fucking exhausted," Lea said. He took a glass bottle, half full, from one of the cabinets.

"I guess heroing is differing than you thought," he said.

Lea poured them both drinks, set the bottle down, and after a moment of thought, took it with him to the living room. "It feels the same," he admitted. "Like in the Organization. Exhausting, complicated, stupid… I just switched sides. I don't think I've slept more than an hour or two a night all week."

"…If you were so tired, you didn't have to train with me all day." He sipped at the drink. It was the same liquor as last time.

"I offered." Lea lit a cigarette and leaned back against the couch. "If Sora propositioned you, then you should be able to defend yourself."

He laughed weakly. "It's so funny. And so weird. Apparently I have the power to turn the fucking tide, or whatever." He looked at his glass, and then downed the rest in a swallow.

"It's not just you." Lea followed suit. "He wants all the old Organization members. With good reason. You're all powerful, and you could really help in the fight. I know you're helping hold down the fort, and Ienzo is trying to figure out what's wrong with all of you. And it's true that, if you joined us, it could be exactly what Xehanort wants. But a few broken chips are better than no chips at all." He poured them out another drink.

"You're not altered," Demyx said. He was starting to feel woozy already, courtesy of an empty stomach. "What's the proof on this?"

"'Hundred or so. Don't worry, I won't let you drink yourself silly."

"You know I've never really been drunk before? Isn't that weird?"

"I'd say you're well on your way." Lea laughed a little darkly. "It's hard for me, too. My metabolism's too fast. It figures. I can finally do what I want with my life, and not only do I voluntarily throw myself in the fight, but I can't even get fucking hammered properly."

He laughed, too. "You have all your memories, though. Don't you?"

"…Yeah." He tapped ash into a bowl. "I almost wish I didn't."

Demyx nursed his second drink. "I'm scared," he admitted. He pretended it was the alcohol making him say that.

"Of course. Shit, me too."

"Of my memories. I don't know what weird shit happened to make me a Nobody. I'm scared of remembering."

"It's not… pleasant." Lea looked up at the ceiling. "Damn. I have spiders again. When I reformed I remembered things for days. I'd try to make myself some fucking coffee and I'd remember all the awful shit that I'd done or all the awful shit that had been done to me. I admit it. I cried like a baby."

He looked at his glass and was surprised to find it empty. His legs felt heavy when he moved.

"…Starting to feel buzzed?"

"Yeah." He lay down. "Can I have another?"

"Alright, but then I'm cutting you off." Glass against glass and liquid pouring. "I guess that's why I came to Sora so quickly. I figured it would bring my conscience back towards zero."

"Lea." It was getting hard to talk. "How much of this is actually our fault?"

Silence. Demyx heard him smoking.

"Lea?"

"I'll tell you this because you're not sober. Too fucking much. We may have harvested Heartless, which theoretically might have saved a few lives. But we also planted darkness. Manipulated people in power. Hurt others for our own gain. Caused worlds to fall. Persuaded people to do things they'd never think of on their own. Murder. Kidnapping. Worse. And for what? In the end, we weren't even the real deal."

Demyx sat up to drink and got himself another. "Oh, god," he said. He didn't know which god he was referring to.

"And that doesn't even count the lab. You know I brought them there? The… the participants? They thought they were contributing towards something good. Public knowledge, and all that. But then we locked them up and we tortured them and we broke them. Shit. How many did I fucking have?" The bottle was empty.

"I dunno. Wasn't paying attention."

"Be so glad you weren't part of it, Demyx. So glad. I was jealous of you for it. Or as jealous as I could be."

The small part of him that could still think clearly noted this. The room was spinning a little. He felt tears in his eyes for no reason at all. "I feel weird."

"You're just drunk. It'll pass."

"No." The carpet was scratchy against his neck. "Just… in general. I don't feel like me."

"Tell me about it," he muttered.

"I just… want…" He could feel his lungs working inside him. "I have to pee."

"Then go, buddy."

Standing was treacherous. When he was done, he looked at himself blurrily in the bathroom mirror. He wasn't sure he liked how this felt. He poked at the swollen skin under his eyes. He had to hold the door frame for support.

He held still for a moment in the hallway. His mouth was starting to feel numb, too. He heard something funny happening in the other room, but his hearing wasn't working like normal. He poked his head back into the living room and saw Lea, knees pressed into his chest, sobbing.

Morning. An itchy blue couch. His head was pounding and he felt sick to the stomach. "…Motherfucker," he said out loud, putting his head into his hands. He'd never been drunk like that before, and now he was paying for it.

On the ground next to him was a mug of water, two little pills, and a note.

D—

Duty calls. Feel free to help yourself to all my splendor, and drink a lot of water. Meet me back here tomorrow.

-L

He went into the bathroom and threw up in the dark. After that, he felt slightly better. He drank down several glasses of water and the little blue pills and for a moment sat still. His muscles were practically throbbing from yesterday's work.

Despite the wicked hangover, he hadn't blacked out. He could still remember—though not clearly—what had happened last night.

It made sense now why Lea did what he did. Aeleus was right—he really was repenting, or at least trying to salve the massive guilt.

Demyx was guilty, too. They all were.

Despite the pain his head was clear. He was going to have to fight with them. The thought was surprising liberating, moreso than the thought of having no choice but to ride this out on the sidelines. "I'm fighting with Sora," he said out loud, just to hear it. He laughed until his sides hurt even worse than before, and because he was hungover and achy and hungry he indulged himself in a good cry. Afterwards he cleaned himself up, and took stock, with a curiously hardened sense of resolve.

#nocturnal memory #demyx #kingdom hearts #kingdom hearts 3d #fanfiction

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