#as I kept writing all I could think was 'how did this Riku become a public speaker all of a sudden'

[kaen-ace-of-diamonds]

for the trope mashup, how about 53 and 94 for Sorikai?

send me 2 AUs and a ship and I'll write a short fic

(Mutual Pining + Hair Brushing/Braiding)

Growing up on the islands, they naturally learned to swim almost before they could walk. Floating and splashing in the gentle waves is second nature to them: keeping them healthy, helping them relax, a constant way to play. Kairi has never thought too much about it, so she's very interested in the boys' stories of worlds where a trip to the ocean is a novel and awe-inspiring thing, or something only to be dreamed about.

"So you're telling me," she says, running her fingers through the heavy, sea-kissed sand, "that it's all sand? Just...as far as you can see, sand?"

"Well, there is one bit of fresh water and trees," Sora says, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "They call it an oasis, and they built the city next to it. Jasmine says that that's usually how building cities in the desert go. I got to try some of the fruit that they grow: apples, melons...this thing called dragon fruit?"

Kairi smiles. Both he and Riku have talked so much about what they've seen in other worlds already, and yet it always seems like they have something new to say about all of them.

(And then there's you, a voice at the back of her mind sneers, with nothing but a void and a memory that crumbles in your hand the instant you touch it.

She shakes the voice away. With Sora at her right hand and Riku at her left, it's not hard to do. Resentment has never come easily to her, anyway.)

"I've got to take you there to try some too! In fact, I think you and Aladdin and Jasmine would get along really well!"

Sora stands up straight, arms crossed behind his head, grinning — had his grin always been so...dazzling? Her heart's never jumped at him before, she's sure.

"Yeah, still not sure I believe you," Riku says, barely holding back a smirk as he tosses a stray starfish into the waves before it can dry out in the sun. "About as much as I believe you swam with mermaids once."

"Not once! Twice!" Sora protests. "You wouldn't believe it, I had fins like a dolphin and I — !"

On impulse, Sora bolts into the water, certainly diving into an incoming wave like a dolphin, and attempting to imitate the animal's way of swimming: kicking strongly and only with the back legs, but quickly sinking in the process.

"Don't laugh!" Sora calls back to her and Riku, even as he's trying and failing not to giggle himself. "I mean it!"

"We believe you, Sora!" Kairi manages, covering her mouth, though she's not sure what good it does: it's very clear what she's doing.

"Wait a minute 'til we're in, then show us!" Riku adds, kicking off his sandals. He tenses to run for the water himself, but Kairi quickly stands and grabs his arm.

"Hold on! Let me braid your hair!"

Riku blinks. "Huh?"

"Now that you've got such long hair..." She reaches out and flops a lock of it, where it hangs down past his shoulders, surprising herself. "It'll get so tangled if we swim for too long. Let me braid it?"

"Oh..." Riku's face lights up. "Yeah, of course!"

He sits back down on the sand, cross-legged, waiting for her. She kneels behind him and, with only a moment's hesitation, takes his newly thick tresses of hair into her hands. Turning them over each other, she marvels at how soft it still is, and wonders why he decided to let it grow out. As kids, he'd always kept it short, he'd never liked it in his eyes. Neither had Sora, but his hair always seemed to grow up and out instead of down.

"Hey!" Kairi almost jumps; she hadn't noticed Sora emerging from the water, until she felt his fingers run through her own hair. (When did they become so calloused? The wooden swords never did that, but the Keyblade must be harsh on their hands.) He draws something out of her hair, something she hadn't even noticed. "Wind blew a little flower into your hair, Kairi!"

She looks at the little plant he's absently twirling between finger and thumb — bright blue, with dark green in the center and on the edges of the petals. Where did it blow in from, she wonders? The same place as her? Have either of them seen it, then, the place where she was born?

Sora's about to toss it back into the sea, to find a new home on the waves, until she takes his wrist. "No, actually...it probably looked better there, didn't it?"

He gives her a puzzled look, but then a moment later his face breaks into the grin she loves so much. "I'll tie it in for you, then!"

Without missing a beat, Sora kneels down in the sand behind her, his hands warm and soft in her hair the way she hopes hers are in Riku's. They work fast: they're island kids, they always have. They look out for themselves and each other, because no one else is going to, out here in the vast and endless ocean.

"Done!" Sora and Kairi both say at the same time, and Riku rises to his feet before either of them, his new braid hanging down between his shoulder blades.

"So? How do you like it?" Kairi asks.

Riku shifts his weight from side to side, tossing his head like a curious dog, and smiles. "Love it! But I think you look just a bit nicer."

"Oh?" Kairi blinks in surprise, hand going to the flower stem safely wound into her hair...but then again, is he looking at the flower or her face?

Meanwhile, Sora's eyes are delightedly flicking between both of them. "Well, I think you're both perfect!"

He's looked at them like that a lot, lately, as if he never thought he would see them again. Not as if she doesn't understand: she's caught herself staring like that since they got home, too.

It's almost unbelievable how much things have changed since they thought they could cross the ocean on their own aboard a raft...and even more so what doesn't necessarily have to.

She's the first to jump up from the sand this time; much as Riku liked to lead, they always have taken that in turns. "Race you to the sandbar!"

Out of the corner of her eye, she can see that they both look momentarily startled, but that doesn't stop them from jumping to follow at her heels, grinning. Like fruit is sweeter when shared, somehow, the hot sand is cooler and the rumbling waves they dive under not quite so big, that the ones she loves the most are back by her sides.

It's strange: being with them in the waters of Destiny Islands should be the easiest, most familiar thing in the world. But something is...different. It's not enough to say she wants Sora and Riku there with her; she always has. It's just...new. And Kairi isn't sure she has the words for it.

Do they feel the same way, she wonders? She thinks she should be able to tell...but then again they've both always been so confident.

A good thing they were raised to handle the ocean currents, when to go with them and when to pull out of them. Far from trying to push into the lead the way they would have done just a couple years ago, now all three of them are trying to stay close to each other. She knows right away that she prefers it.

Sora's warm skin brushes against her arm, and the stem of his flower is still tightly wound into her hair. Riku's eyes gleam as he propels himself over a wave, a strip of seaweed catching on the end of his long braid. Kairi smiles, sea foam catching the side of her face: she couldn't ask for anything more than this.

When she finally holds a Keyblade in her hand, she'll fight just as hard as Sora and Riku to protect it.

[ianthedisastrous]

Character Name: Iandore Lightfoot Title/occupation: Viscount Magick Status: Elven Sorcerer (Out) Biography: (tw: death, mourning)

Iandore had taken to writing letters, although many he never sent.

One to his mother, at the end of his previous Season. A declaration of certainty, chance, risk in the match he had found. A swell of joy scrawled in ink that remained tucked into his journal, knowing the disappointment it brought, knowing he had broken her heart for the sake of following his own.

'I am endlessly sorry, but my heart simply will not allow anything less. Lady Rabbit has been an excellent mentor, do not think poorly of her for the choices I make. This is the chance I must take, even if it leads me so very far from home. I did not know love could be such an unruly creature, nor could I.

I wish you could be here, I never imagined a wedding all on my own, all over a title that was not nearly enough. The day was lovely, but something was missing. Someone was missing.

Forgive me for how selfish I am.'

Another, six short, devastating months later, in anger and grief, with his eyes drawn to the rainy afternoons and the empty gates of the estate attached to a name he shared with a husband who did not return because of something as foolish as a dispute over their lands. Lost, in that way that cannot be reached; resting in the quiet earth.

It joined the first, because he could not stand the thought of letting it go when he had let go of far too much already.

'I will never know why the world gave me you, but for no longer than a moment. As if any life there was to make could only be so few breaths. I should have saved them, spent them with more care.

And now I cannot stomach the thought of spring. My chest may as well collapse, it is no more than an empty cage of ribs and splintered what might have been woven tight, suffocating me.

The thought of swaying trees and the blooming flowers that will continue on, gracing the gardens with their sweet scent and soft colors, as though they have any right to while you are not here to see them is one that leaves me in longing for winter.

This place is becoming my grave as well, day by day.'

When he finally heard from home again there was yet another letter, left boldly upon his desk to greet his kin from the States if they ever bothered to come seeking him in the empty halls, demanding he return to the Season, that the family name remained tarnished with his choices to marry the wrong match in Viscount Riku.

'I leave this haunted place to the lot of you, and I hope it serves you well because I will not any longer. My late husband does not linger here and neither will I another day. If he has found peace I must seek my own alone, as this world will allow me nothing else.

I take my name back, what remains of my sparse means after these months with the estate in decline, and the rest is for your hungry hands to claim as you wish. It will not please you, but my will to see the beauty here has crumbled as the stones have begun to.

Do not call on me, I know you would never welcome me, I find no comfort in wishing otherwise anymore, and my home here has withered away around me. Whatever lies ahead, you are welcome to these ghosts.

I do not know what life I must live now, but I am tired of dying each day.'

Iandore returned to travel, to quiet evenings alone and the road as far as his dwindling funds could take him knowing he had nothing left to fall back on. His words kept him company, a peace in them, a smaller joy, to fill the emptiness where his heart lay tangled in memory.

But now, nearly two years behind him and a heart tired but somber, he has come to the ends of his means, found himself in London once again during that unlucky time, the Season in full swing.

He has no energy for it, these silly games of airs and importance, and certainly is unsuited for them with empty pockets and no prospects. Uncertain of a future he was never taught to survive without comforts he took for granted, Ian persists if only because he has memories to still carry, but fortune may not have abandoned him just yet.

[guiltyhearts]

SoKai Day 2022: A Wedding Toast

Fandom: Kingdom Hearts

Pairings: Sora/Kairi (SoKai) 

Characters: Riku, Sora, Kairi, et al

Rating: G

Summary: Sora and Kairi’s best friend has been witness to their love story from the start to the present. He tells it all in a toast on their wedding day.

Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts and its characters. 

------

Tink-tink-tink

The soft sound of tinkling glass managed to settle down the wedding guests, where they stopped to pay attention to the tall, fit man that stood straight before them. From a table at the center of the reception area, reserved for the newlywed couple and their closest loved ones, the man cleared his throat.

“Thank you. My name is Riku,” the man said. “You may know me as the best friend of the newlyweds.” He gestured with his glass to the couple by his left. Elegant for the occasion and glowing with bliss, Sora and Kairi had managed to turn their attention away from each other long enough to listen to their mutual friend.

“The bride and groom have other best friends, but I knew them first, so I hold seniority. Therefore, I get to sit here,” Riku joked with a gesture to the wedding party’s table. Laughter filled the room at his joke. If anyone had noticed his stilted delivery, they didn’t show it.

“Sora, Kairi, and I have known each other since we were very young. Having known them for so long, I’ve had a front-row seat to their relationship and how it evolved over the years. Practically from day one,” he started. “They hit it off right away. I took a little more time to warm up to you, Kairi, sorry about that. When I was a kid, I thought that Sora was always just that nice and it was easier for him to make friends with new people. But I saw him around you at that time. He wouldn’t nearly jump out of his seat if Tidus was walking into the room, —” The crowd chuckled again. “—And well, I don’t know about you, but Sora’s never smiled like that when he looked at me.” Laughter rippled through the reception hall, as the guests took notice of the groom’s shy smile and his tomato-red face, having been caught looking at his bride.

“But it wasn’t just Sora. When I was about eight years old, one day I thought I would keep count of how many times Kairi would look at Sora and just smile without him ever noticing.” Riku paused for dramatic effect. “To say I lost count by the end of the day would be an understatement.”

“By the time we grew up and they realized how they really felt, it seemed like it would be a given that they were going to be together forever. Nothing and no one would keep them apart. When they told me they were going to get married this year, I was surprised because I thought they had already done that and just chose not to say anything. But then it turned out that wasn’t the case. I think I’m even more surprised that they had waited as long as they did to formally get married and have a wedding. But Sora and Kairi, they found a way to top that. Every day after they announced their wedding, they would both tell me, on separate occasions, that their wedding could not come fast enough. They were really eager to have their ceremony. You all know it was this morning. I’m surprised they didn’t get married right after midnight.”

The audience laughed again, charmed and taken aback at Riku’s humor. Others took note of the bride and groom laughing in good nature, though no one seemed to notice the subtle way in which their eyes widened and their smiles tightened in panic.

Riku looked down at Sora and Kairi and raised his glass to them, acknowledging far more than the crowd knew.

---

A succession of tapping noises at his bedroom window managed to rouse Riku from a deep sleep. Though not fully awake, he could hear noises more clearly.

“Riku! Riku!”

It took a few more calls, but Riku lifted his head to see a spiky head on the other side of his window. At that moment he should have been suspicious. But this was far from the first time Sora climbed through the window for some shenaniganry or to “just hang out some more”, as he put it.

“Riku, wake up!” Sora called out in a hushed voice.

In response, Riku climbed out of bed, strode over to open the window and stepped aside to let Sora enter, as had been routine.

“Come on, let’s go! It can’t wait!” Was he still outside?

“What can’t wait?” Riku asked sleepily.

“Just! Come!” Sora was far too excited and giddy for how late the night was. He said other things but they were lost in the fog of Riku’s sleep-addled brain.

He couldn’t recall how he ended up out of his bedroom half-dressed and in old sandals, but he was now outside and leaving his neighborhood with Sora, who was excited over something that just couldn’t wait and it came to him only a few hours ago. It was late, but he had to share it with just enough people and they should be the people we loved most. “So come on, Riku, Kairi and I are gonna get married right now!”

The next thing Riku remembered was that he stopped walking. “What do you mean you’re getting married right now?”

Sora had the audacity to grin like a morning person. “We’re going to elope!”

–---

The next thing Riku remembered after that was demanding an explanation from Sora. He said that it felt right to him and Kairi and so they were going to marry now. Riku then demanded an explanation that made sense. All he got was that the moment felt right for them both. That Kairi didn’t want to wait any longer than he did, and he wanted her to be happy. And if he could be legally married to her for an extra few hours, then why would he pass up on that?

Then they were on the shore of the main island, from where their play island could be seen in the distance in daylight. By the shore, a group was already waiting for the two young men. Even under the moonlight, he could recognize the silhouettes and features of Naminé, Roxas, Aqua, and…

“Mickey?!” Riku cried out in shock. “What are you doing here?!”

“I was asked to officiate this surprise wedding. As a sovereign ruler, I have the power to bless nuptials. As a friend, I’m honored to have been asked!” Was Mickey’s cheerful answer.

“You’re okay with them getting married right now, at this hour?!”

“If the hour is right, then it’s right.”

He was still in a state of disbelief so he hadn’t noticed Kairi approaching him until her arms held him in a tight hug. “I’m so glad you’re here,” Kairi grinned at him. “It wouldn’t have felt right without you.”

Those words did touch his heart, and Riku might have smiled and held on to the sentiment. Still, it nagged him that his friends were about to have a secret wedding and were acting with such urgency. They were living in peaceful times and had not seen the kind of cataclysmic danger that would have torn them apart for many years. No one present was giving him any good explanation, nor did they stand in solidarity with him. They thought the whole thing was romantic!

In a daze, Riku followed the group as they stood in the arrangements they would be in during what should have been the actual wedding ceremony. Before he could join them, he took in the picture before him.

Sora and Kairi stood before each other with their hands clasped and as close as they could stand. Just behind them, the sea stretched on, shimmering with starlight from the sky. There was nothing ahead but the sea and the sky, mirrored in natural harmony. At the foreground, sea and sky were joined by love, refusing to wait for destiny any longer.

Riku had to concede. Whether or not it was the moonlight that made his friends radiant with such joy, it was a romantic sight.

Mickey assumed his position between the eager couple, his hands clasped in front of him as he began the ceremony.

“Dearly beloved…”

—-

In the present, the wedding guests sat under a tent in the daytime and were listening to a man toast to his friends’ marriage. A marriage that had already started mere hours ago. Maybe even years ago.

“Sora and Kairi seem like the perfect example of a couple that were destined to fall in love and become a couple. That’s only partly true. They chose to be together, and they chose each other over and over again,” Riku said sincerely. “Those of us who have witnessed them firsthand know that sometimes the odds were against them. And they would fight destiny if they had to.”.

“I’ve seen this with my own eyes time and again. To know them is to know true love. Sometimes it can come into your life in the most unexpected ways, and it can also be something that is grown and built together. It’s an honor that they’ve given us to share their special day with them.”

Riku raised his glass one more time. “To the happy couple!”

“Cheers!” The guests raised their glasses and toasted to the newlyweds’ joy and bliss.

[redxblueihateloveyou]

I kept thinking why this situation in SK8 gives me a strong deja vu feeling. And only yesterday it hit me. Prince of Stride!

Only there was a Riku, not Reki (lolz).

And he had an immensly talented brother (Tomoe), who he couldn’t catch up with no matter how hard he tried, so everyone in a stride world kept calling him “that Tomoe’s brother” instead of remembering his name. 

He then met Takeru who was also as talented as his brother and he enjoyed running with him, but couldn’t beat him either no matter how hard he trained, so he was afraid that he’s gonna be abondoned again, like it was with his brother. Then he and Takeru had the same scene when he yelled at him that he’s not like him and Adam Tomoe and no matter how fast he runs he can’t outrun them.

He kept training tho, but still couldn’t catch up and stopped when he couldn’t reach Takeru again, but Takeru stopped too and came back for him saying that he wants to run with him. That healed Riku’s abandonment issues and errased the block he had, so he could actually outrun both Takeru and his brother at the end. 

It also has a seniors trio who were like the perfect team in the past and had fun running together, but then split, green and pink one reconcilled, but the most dramatic one stayed dramatic, even tho pink one kept in touch with him, wanting to see him having fun while running again.

But in this case if Reki for some reason magically unlocks a super saiyan powers after Langa will tell him that he wants to skate with him, too, it would be weird to me.

And tho I understand why ppl try to compare, I object to this being paralleled to Rin’s first coming back from Australia when he was 12 scene. Rin was inspired by Haru’s talent and he wanted to become like him and become his best rival, so he decided to dive into the hardest challenge possible and moved to Australia to learn from the ones, who were the best swimmers in the world. Which of course didn’t turn out great, cause it’s like if you just got into cooking, and started by challenging some 5 michelen star shef lmao, but its Rin, so haha he probably can do anything if he set his mind on it. He did pick Haru as his perfect rival after all. As in Haru who is naturally the best. After that he hit a wall and this scene happened, but his mind at that time was on the fact that he couldn’t make his dead father proud and make his dad’s dream come true, cause that’s what he promised to himself on his grave. He wasn’t upset about the fact that Haru was better than him, he said this to Rei later. 

He kept challenging him when he grew up thinking that beating him will somehow satisfy him, but then he did and wasn’t happy at all and his heart completely broke, cause he realized that what he wanted is just to be with Haru and swim with him and not only on the paralleled lanes, on one is ok too xD. He then realised that his dad’s dream wasn’t the same as his. 

So how does this apply to the Reki-Langa situation I do not get. I hardly see Reki doing something extraordinary to reach Langa’s level to skate with him somehow, even if Langa ran over there and went full on Haru and yelled how he’s the only reason for his swimming skating, how will this help him skating better? It’s just not plausable in this situation, since a) Reki doesn’t keep trying nor tries to come up with something different or tricky; b) him unlocking super-skating powers in these last 3 episodes would be too funny with his last episode attitude. And like Riku’s abandonment issues were understandable. Reki on the other hand was always surrounded by the same talented crowd and was never bothered, but now he suddenly wants to be up there, but doesn’t want to do anything to be up there. Like okay, as usual for an anime like this, Langa will tell him that he wants to skate with him, too and it’s all because of him, but like what will it lead to? To him suddenly magically  tranforming bc of the power of friendship? I’m so confused about the writing here. Like ppl keep comparing and I’m like, if it ends like this in this case it’s gonna be like 1+1=3 situation. Like for wanting to compete with these bunch, you gotta have another state of mind, I think.

In this anime you can literally go into the race like while throwing knives at your opponent at the same time, so like idk why miss out on smth like that, esp if you don’t like Adam. You can literally ‘Home Alone” through the whole thing, even if you’re some basic skater, he just doesn’t want to even try.

Anyways, besides all the sports anime tropes, I kept thinking that it’s still stangely too similar to smth, but not Free! and then it hit me. It just has been a long time since I saw Stride, but yeah, that’s what it was. So it might end like this, too who knows. But if he outskates everyone, Idk it will be too funny to me. I’d be ok with this only if I saw him secretly trying to come up with smth unexpected all this time, but it doesn’t look like he’s doing anything like that. 

[midnight0stars]

This gave me such a good chuckle when I saw it. And even more so while I was writing it.

I hope I pulled off what you were wanting! It doesn’t get too NSFW, a lot of that because I didn’t have a gender for the reader and every attempt I made at getting them hot and heavy seemed shoehorned in.

If I do get to write more for this in the future (which I would love to), I think it would be a great slow burn. One awkward encounter after another, until one of them finally breaks and they realize they both want the other and aren’t creeps for lusting after the other.

Ahaha anyway, I hope you enjoy! Thank you so much for your support and this fun request!

**Didn’t See You There ~ Riku x Reader NSFW**

Words: 1335

————————————

Your back ached, your feet heavy as they dragged with each step up the spiral staircase of the Mysterious Tower. You would never understand why Yen Sid insisted on making his tower the main base for you and all the other wielders. After a long, stressful mission, climbing up those steps was something you dreaded upon returning.

Regardless, it was something you had to trudge through to make it up to the lounge, or your room, the dining hall– basically anything that would allow you to relax after spending hours traversing the unknown on whatever forsaken mission the masters decided to send you on that day.

It wasn’t all bad. Even though the bright side was something you weren’t exactly inclined to think about when all you wanted to do was faceplant on a pile of pillows. All that stood between you and that sweet, sweet pillowy embrace was getting there. The mission had been completed, the enemies sent running with their coat tails between their legs, all you needed to do was get to the top of these damned stairs.

You nearly face planted when you reached Master Yen Sid’s study. The door gave way to your weight and your legs decided it would be a good time to buckle. With a series of groans and yelps you got back to your feet, about to give your report, before Master Yen Sid cut you off with a chuckle and told you to get some well deserved rest. The report could wait till morning.

For the first time since arriving back to base, a smile spread across your lips. One less thing that kept you from cocooning in a dozen blankets. With a skip in your step, you left the study, walking through the empty halls towards the lounge where you knew you’d find a pile of extra blankets that you had decided to claim as your own for the night.

Everyone else was gone on missions, and admittedly, you should have still been on yours, too. If it hadn’t been for your target hightailing it out of there the moment you had the upper hand, you probably would still be kicking their ass.

Not that you were complaining about the chance to come back early.

The door to the lounge was shut, which caused you to pause since it was usually propped open. You gripped the handle, about to pull it open until you heard a muffled voice.

A voice? Weren’t you supposed to be the only one back?

Your brows furrowed as you glanced around, unsure who you expected to see since it was obvious the only person was actually inside the lounge, but perhaps you weren’t as alone as you thought. With a shrug, you opened the door and walked in, stopping mid step when you saw Riku resting along the couch on the other side of the room.

Normally you would have greeted him, smiled and asked him how he was doing. And maybe you would have considered doing that this time, too, if he didn’t have his dick in his hand.

His eyes were slid shut as his hand pumped along his length, that you couldn’t help but notice was thicker than you imagined it would be. Headphones were over his head, blocking the sound of you entering unannounced and the way your voice was currently spilling a mixture or squeaks and sounds as you experienced what you could only describe as gay panic.

You needed to leave.

Why weren’t you leaving?

When did your feet become so damned heavy?

A whine constricted your throat when the faintest sigh slipped past his lips as his hand went over the tip of his length.

“Fuck…” you managed a word and your hands immediately covering your mouth before you whisked around and evacuated the premises, slamming the door behind you.

If he hadn’t noticed you before, he surely did now from that disaster of an escape.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” you repeated the word as if it were an incantation that would bring you back in time to undo you barging into an obviously occupied room and seeing something you didn’t entirely regret witnessing.

Wait, no, no, you definitely regretted it.

How were you supposed to face Riku after this without imagining his perfect, thick— Oh my GOD, you were hopeless.

You froze as the door to the lounge opened behind you.

Riku cleared his throat, causing your eyes to slide shut as you wished your soul would just cut to the chase and leave your body.

“Um, hey, Y/N,” he greeted with that sort of voice that told you he was wordlessly asking if you saw anything.

At all costs, you couldn’t let him know.

“Heeeeey,” you turned yourself around to face him, trying desperately to smile and seem nonchalant.

If the way he winced when your eyes met was any indication, you were failing miserably.

“How-uh, how are you?” You asked, motioning towards him as your mind screamed about what an absolute idiot you were and to flee immediately. “Today was a hard one, right?” You chuckled, your voice drying in your throat as you realized what you had just said. “I-I mean, ah fuck…”

You cringed at your own inability to act natural as Riku sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.

“I didn’t know you’d be back so soon.” He admitted, his gaze averted as a warmth crept up his neck. “I should of–”

“It’s fine,” you cut him off, your hands going out in front of you. His gaze darted back to you, making you swallow as you realized you’d basically given yourself away.

“So, you did—” his voice trailed off, blush covered his face as he shook his head and murmured under his breath. “I’m such an idiot.”

“You?!” You blurted out. “No, no, you’re fine! I’m the one that barged in unannounced. I mean, who does that?”

A choked laugh escaped him from your exclamation. “You don’t have anything to be sorry for.” He assured you, unable to meet your eyes with his as he crossed his arms and took in a deep breath. “I’m.. I’m sorry you had to see that.”

You had to forcibly restrain the sentiment that you were anything but sorry for seeing him like that, but your delayed response might have given that away regardless as Riku cleared his throat.

“O-Oh, um… don’t worry about it.” You scratched the side of your head, before laughing, “I probably was going to do the same thing, in all honesty. You just sort of beat me to it.”

Riku’s lips twisted in an expression that told you he wasn’t exactly sure how to take that. And if you were being honest, you weren’t sure either.

You were about to apologize, before Riku chuckled breathily.

“Guess that does make me feel a bit better.” He admitted amidst his laughter. “But-uh, I’ll head back to my room now.”

“Oh,” you realized, wishing the disappointed tone hadn’t come through in your reply.

Considering everything that just happened, shouldn’t you have wanted him to leave?

With how Riku glanced to you with his brow quirking up in confusion, you had a feeling he was wondering the same.

Waving him off, you recovered, “Yeah, yeah, that makes sense. Have-uh, a good night, I guess.”

You swallowed, straining a smile as you walked past him towards the lounge. Riku’s eyes lingered on you as you left and you couldn’t shake the feeling that he had wanted something else. But that had to have been your own selfish reasoning. There’s no way he’d actually want more from you after you had seen him in such a vulnerable state, right?

Even if he had, you weren’t about to push your luck.

You’d just have to go back to your room and complete your relaxation ritual of cocooning in a dozen blankets, while figuring out a way to forget everything that had just happened.

That is… if you wanted to forget.

[animebabe301]

Rekindling the Fire

Warning(s): NSFW, smut

Pairing(s): Kakashi x fem!reader

Word Count: 5,923 words

A/N: This is for @allthingskakashi cause I put it in her reqs and now I’m the one who ended up writing it haha! :)) ENJOY!

Summary: With Kakashi as hokage and you as an academy teacher, each passing day gets harder and harder until one day, a surprise approaches and you and Kakashi get a vacation together.

You didn’t know how hard it was to have Kakashi as hokage and you as a teacher at the academy. That was where you both had met a few years ago. He was teaching team 7 while you were in charge of your own team. You had heard how cold of an instructor he was-never passing any team he was assigned, so you avoided him at all costs to stay on his good side--or just simply stay away from his bad side. It wasn’t until your team and Kakashi’s team had to complete a mission and work together that you both grew somewhat closer as friends.

Naruto had been the one to point out the fact that everytime you and Kakashi were together, Kakashi was the one who shied away. It was one night that you and Kakashi had stood watch while your students were sleeping, and you finally spoke to him about personal likes and dislikes and befriended him. As it turned out, you both had more in common than you’d thought, and although you could only see one of his eyes, you knew his emotions in that moment from just that one eye. That was how you both fell in love.

As time moved on, you both dated and your bond grew stronger and stronger. You both trained together, lived together, taught together. Everyone knew you both were the unstoppable power couple, in battle and romance. You both decided that marriage was good before the war and tied the knot through a simple but modest wedding-the way both of you wanted. All was well after the war, and Kakashi had been appointed as sixth hokage. Kakashi didn’t think he was fit to be hokage, but you and Iruka insisted that it would suit him well. That was... until recently. You’d been busy as an academy teacher and as a mother to your five-year old twins while Kakashi was spending many nights out of the week doing hokage duties. The twins were the sweetest children anyone could ever ask for. They had Kakashi’s silver hair, meanwhile they had your big (Y/E/C) eyes. They were born premature as you had problems during your pregnancy, but they were the healthiest two eight-month-old babies could ever be. If they didn’t pop out any time sooner, you could’ve sworn your stomach was going to pop.

But... there were nights where you felt like you couldn’t do it anymore. It was hard for you, but you knew it was hard for Kakashi as well. There were even nights where he wouldn’t make it home and would sleep on the couch in his office. It made you sad, but you knew you could never talk him out of taking a day off from his hokage duties. He worked too hard for his own good and he truly didn’t know what else he could do to make everyone happy. The days just seemed to drag on longer and longer, but you knew that you had to keep going or else you were going to be a wreck.

Unfortunately, you broke down. You didn’t feel right, and you weren’t happy at all. You’d just put the kids to sleep and you sat on your couch, staring at the empty wall behind the TV. It had been only four years since Kakashi had been appointed as hokage, but it felt like it’d been decades. You missed him by your side every night, his smell, his touch, everything. It made you yearn for him even more. You couldn’t do anything about it-you just had to deal with it. Sure, there were nights where you could please yourself if you had time alone after the kids slept. But it was nothing like the nights you and Kakashi would share in bed.

After sitting on the couch for what felt like hours, you decided to shower and get some sleep before the next day came. As you stood up, you heard your front door open. There he was, no longer the young man you fell in love with, but a hardworking man who needed to shave and groom himself just a bit more to look presentable, but you didn’t mind-he’s too busy taking care of everyone else but himself. Surprised that he was home, you rushed up to hug him, asking him if he had eaten already, if he wanted a massage, or if he wanted to sleep. Chuckling behind his mask, he looked at you, smiled, and explained that he had eaten already and just wanted to take a warm bath before going to sleep. Without hesitation, you started walking away to start a warm hot bath for him until your thoughts were interrupted.

“(Y/N)?” “Yes?” you said while turning around. Before you knew it, Kakashi was already standing in front of you, staring into your eyes. Trying to avoid his gaze, you looked down. He made you look up, taking your chin into his hand. You didn’t want him to see you like this, you wanted to be the perfect wife for him-no complaints, no tears, no worries. “Were you crying?” he asked while stroking your cheek. With the silent air between the both of you, he already knew the answer. “Why were you crying? Is it because of me? Did I do something wrong?” Concerned, he kept pestering you while you turned on your determined path to start the warm bath for your husband. Grabbing you roughly, he stopped you at the door of the bathroom. “(Y/N), what’s wrong?” “It’s nothing,” you said while trying to get away from his grip. “Don’t lie, (Y/N), you and I both know that you are the worst liar in the universe, yet--” “Okay, yes! I was crying!” you yelled a bit too loudly, “I was crying because I can’t do this anymore, Kakashi, I can’t stand being home alone all the time, I can’t stand being in bed by myself and not having you here to hold me to sleep. I can’t stand not feeling your warmth by my side in the morning, and I can’t stand that you put so much effort into being hokage that I can’t even see you as often as a wife should see her husband!” “Well then, what do you want me to do, (Y/N)?! Grow eight tentacles and juggle everything at home AND at the office?! I’m trying my best to be your husband and as the protector of this village! I didn’t choose to become hokage, you and Iruka put this on me! You both were the ones who said that becoming hokage would definitely make the village a better place, well here I am-trying to make it a better place for others, yet no one would understand simply because they don’t!”

Tears were starting to well up in your eyes again. Kakashi and you never argued like this. He was always so calm and collected. You instantly regretted yelling at him. You didn’t know where that outburst came from, and you certainly didn’t mean to raise your voice at your husband. Without another word, Kakashi grabbed the towel from your hand and closed the bathroom door. You felt so bad. It wasn’t your husband’s fault. You were the reason he took the calling of being the sixth hokage, yet here you were complaining that you were alone. You knew the risks, you knew the challenges you would face, yet you were blaming your husband for the selfish desires in your heart. You sat on your bed, ashamed of the words and actions that made Kakashi go angry.

The water finished draining, and within a few seconds, Kakashi appeared in your shared bedroom. He’d wrapped himself in a white towel and had another towel in his hands drying his silver hair. The silence between the two of you was unbearable, but you didn’t know what to say, so you fixed the bed and told him to turn off the lights when he was done getting ready for bed. That night, Kakashi didn’t hold you, he didn’t even turn your way. He probably wasn’t mad, but was probably saddened by your sudden outburst. Or, he could’ve been angry that you were being selfish. Either way, you were thinking too much which made your head hurt, and before you knew it, you were drifting off to sleep.

The next few days were the same-wake up, get the twins and yourself ready, cook breakfast, and out the door the three of you went. It was a continuous and basic routine. After the argument, you made sure to be asleep before Kakashi came home, and you were sure Kakashi wanted to avoid coming home in general other than to sleep and rest.

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Waking up from your slumber, you looked at the time on the alarm clock on your nightstand. It’s 7:30 a.m.! The kids were supposed to be out of bed and eating breakfast by now! You thought as you rushed yourself out of bed, putting on your robe. Looking into the twins’ room, they were nowhere to be found. “Boys! Where are you?! We need to be at the academy in a few minutes!” You looked everywhere, but to no avail. Eventually, you made your way downstairs to the kitchen, the glorious smell still beckoning you.

Turning the corner, you realized that the boys were already dressed and ready for school. They were eating their breakfast, and you turned to see Kakashi in an apron, making more food on the stove. You didn’t know what to do-you were still running off the adrenaline of waking up late, that you stood there, dumbfounded. “What’s the matter, babe? Cat got your tongue?” Kakashi teased as you silently tried to approach the three boys you loved so dearly in your life. Shocked that Kakashi was home, making breakfast for the family for the first time in awhile, you silently sat at the far end of the table. The twins were unexpectedly quiet this morning, but you knew that since the argument the other night, the boys hadn’t said much lately. The other night. When you yelled a bit too loudly at Kakashi for taking upon himself the name of hokage. Guilt started to creep in again until the younger of the twins, Yuma, broke the silence.

“Mommy? Daddy?” Which caught yours and Kakashi’s attention. With yours and Kakashi’s attention on Yuma, he continued, “Are you going to get divorced?” You and Kakashi stared at each other and looked away, ashamed that your children had heard the arguing the night before. Before you could both reply, your other son, Riku asked, “So it’s true? Mommy and daddy don’t love each other anymore? But why--” “Who told you that?” Kakashi said, cutting the two curious boys off, who were pouting with tears welling up in their eyes. “Well... the kids from school said that when parents argue, they’re going to end up divorcing,” Riku explained. Kakashi smiled while walking towards you-the two boys deeply distraught in their own small worlds. Kissing you on the head, Kakashi explained to them, “Well, when adults argue it doesn’t mean that they’re going to divorce, it just means that there’s a problem. And if that problem doesn’t get solved the right way, then the adults argue about that problem.” Wiping their tears away, Yuma and Riku looked at you with their big eyes, waiting for another justifiable and hopeful answer from you. “That’s right, boys. We were arguing because we weren’t happy, and we needed to solve a problem. But now, that problem is fixed, so you both don’t have to worry.” “Really?! So... mommy and daddy AREN’T going to divorce?!” the two boys exclaimed together. While looking at you, Kakashi assured them, “Nope! Mommy and I are going to be together forever! Just like the day I promised I would love her forever on our wedding day.” Cheering, the boys got up to hug each other-which in turn, turned out to be Kakashi pulling you in as well while squishing the two adorable boys in between you two.

After celebrating for a few minutes, there was a knock at the door. Opening the door, Iruka walked into your living room. “Uncle Iruka! Uncle Iruka!” the boys cheered together. “Are you ready boys? School’s about to start soon! Get your bags, we need to head out ASAP!” Confused, you looked at Iruka and said, “Oh, sorry Iruka, you must be confused with the days, I’m actually taking them today. You’re just a week early on picking them up, I’m afraid.” With a smile, Iruka simply looked over at Kakashi and winked at you, “don’t worry about it, I’m sure there’ll be another one on the way real soon-or maybe another two.”

Before you could say anything else, Iruka and the boys were already on their way to school. You were left behind, stunned by the words that had come out of Iruka’s mouth. Looking up at the clock, you realized that you only had ten minutes before classes were starting, and you panicked, rushing up the stairs to get ready for work. Stopping you dead in your tracks, Kakashi stared at you and simply said, “you’re off of work today,” before walking down the steps. For sure, he was the hokage, but you had your duties and he had his. He wasn’t going to use his power against you. Before taking another step, Kakashi warned you, “I told you that you’re off today. Just get dressed to travel.” “Why? Where are we going?” you asked curiously. “Just get dressed.”

While you were busy getting dressed, you realized that there were two packed bags in your closet. The ones you and Kakashi had last used for your honeymoon, where you’d conceived the twins. Just thinking about your honeymoon made you think of the things you and Kakashi had done. Things that made you feel a certain way-the only certain way Kakashi could ever make you feel. Things that couldn’t be explained, and things that should never be explained about. You couldn’t think about that right now. You were even surprised that Kakashi had been home this morning-or even that he’d spoken to you.

Waiting on the couch in your living room, Kakashi brought the luggage downstairs and checked all the doors in the house to make sure no intruders could enter. You were confused and had so many questions, but that’s what Kakashi hated-questions. Sometimes, you had too many, and he’d get slightly impatient with you. Seeing as though he seemed to still be a bit distant since the argument, you decided to go along with whatever it was he was planning.

Walking out of Konoha, you were wondering where the boys would be staying-who they would be staying with. As if reading your mind, Kakashi interrupted your thoughts saying, “the boys will be with Iruka while we’re gone.” With a content state of mind, you decided to let that thought go. Iruka was a trustworthy person who knew how to take care of children, and he’d taken care of the boys before. If he ever needed help, he knew that Asuma and Kurenai would be of help since they had a little one of their own as well. Hearing the rustling of the leaves around the both of you, you weren’t afraid. They were simply members of the Anbu black-ops who had to stay by Kakashi’s side no matter where he went. You weren’t bothered by them, but you weren’t comfortable enough to make conversation with them either.

You walked silently behind Kakashi, afraid that asking any questions would anger him even more than you already had the few nights ago. Kakashi didn’t seem mad, but he did seem occupied in his mind. After walking for a whole day, Kakashi stopped at a private sauna bath. As you both walked in, you didn’t see anyone other than workers there. Wondering where other customers were, you asked the ladies at the front desk while trying to make small talk. The women then explained that the hokage had made arrangements that it be reserved for the two of you only. Surprised, you were speechless. Kakashi wasn’t one to make these types of arrangements. While settling down into your suite, you and Kakashi changed your clothes from what you wore to travel into bathrobes to enter the hot bath.

While sitting in silence and enjoying the hot relaxing water on your body, you heard a simple “I’m sorry.” It was so quiet and subtle that you weren’t sure you’d heard Kakashi correctly. It wasn’t until he looked up at you that you realized he was speaking to you. His eyes were tired. His body exhausted from the constant slouch he had when sitting in his chair in his office. You never had time to look at your husband, you just knew that he was never endlessly working and never home. You were simply selfish from your desires and struggles that you were only finally realizing how much your husband had been through these past six years. Sure, you’d been through hell and back throughout the years as well, but Kakashi had double the pain in the rear end you had.

You had tears forming in your eyes as you thought back to the night of the argument. “I’m sorry too,” you finally expressed with a smile toward your husband. Relieved of the tension between the two of you, Kakashi motioned for you to cuddle with him in the water. Sliding your body toward him, you put your head on his chest while he laid on the outer wall of the sauna. “You didn’t have to do this, Kakashi. We could’ve just had a day to ourselves at home.” “No, we both needed this, (Y/N). Plus, we’re going to be here for a bit, so we might as well appreciate that Iruka was willing to take care of the twins while we’re gone,” Kakashi replied. Kakashi went on, “we’ve both been stressed over little things, it’s about time we’ve been spending more time together. We’re not getting any younger, and I don’t think our minds can last any longer without each other.”

For the rest of the night, you both caught up on things you were unable to say to  each other for the past few months. There were tears and laughter mixed into that night. For the first time in awhile, you felt happy. Not that you weren’t happy with your life at home, but you needed a break from being the perfect wife, mother, and teacher. Anyone would understand, but you knew Kakashi would understand the most. Although you’d never been hokage either, you understood the stress he went through as leader of one of the most powerful villages in the land of fire.

“(Y/N),” Kakashi said while stroking your hair, “I hope you never feel like I’m neglecting you. I know I’m not the best husband, but I love you. And I may not always be home, but just know that--” “--that there’s always an anbu black-op watching over us at home?” Shocked at your words, Kakashi just simply sighed to himself. “So you knew...” “Silly! Of course I knew! You and I were the most formidable couple in Konoha back in the day-and you think I wouldn’t notice that an anbu black-op is simply pit-patting on our roof daily?” With a small O formed on his mouth, you simply calmed his racing heart, “I appreciate that you did that, Kakashi. It makes the boys and me feel safer at home. That’s how I always knew you cared-from hearing the anbu on the roof. That was your way of showing you cared about us even though you couldn’t be there yourself at home.”

With that, you pulled Kakashi’s mask down, revealing his rose pink lips. Kissing him felt like it was the first time again. It’d been so long since you felt his strong arms around you, holding your waist as though you were going to disappear if he didn’t hold tight enough. Your kiss turned out to be more than you both thought it’d be-a make out session. Kakashi grabbed you and lifted you up onto his lap. You looked away and blushed, being reminded of the weight you’d gained since you both had been married and had the twins. “What’s wrong?” Kakashi asked, clearly concerned. “Nothing, I just got fat--” Cutting you off with a kiss, Kakashi’s lips left yours as he made it clear while looking into your eyes, “you are beautiful. Probably even more beautiful than the night we first made love. Look at me.” Blushing, you finally looked at your husband, making such intense eye contact that caused for you to look down. Kakashi was impatient and unsatisfied with the way you were acting, and flipped you over onto your back. With a yelp, you were under your husband’s muscular body, under his mercy.

Kakashi started kissing your neck, making sure to leave marks. No one would be able to see them as you were both the only people at the sauna (other than Kakashi’s anbu guards), but you knew they were going to leave a mark for at least a week. You made small whimpers as Kakashi kept nibbling behind your ears and collarbone. “Don’t hold back, baby. I’ll make you feel even better than I did on our honeymoon. I want to hear you,” Kakashi softly said against your skin. Slowly peeling your silk robe from your body, Kakashi made sure each part of the surface of your skin was well taken care of. He traveled down to your breasts, caressing one of your mounds in his hand while bringing his mouth down on the other. You couldn’t hold back anymore. You were finally making love with Kakashi again but without anything holding you back; no kids sleeping in the next room, no next door neighbors.

When Kakashi flicked his tongue against your nipple, you felt a noise leave your lips. It wasn’t a small whimper, it was a moan that had been hidden inside for the past few years. You took Kakashi’s silver hair in between your fingers and pulled, signaling to him that you wanted more-no, you needed more. Kakashi kept nibbling and flicking his tongue against your breast and moved onto the other, giving it the same love. You were already a moaning and wet mess as he moved further down to your lower abdomen. He kissed your stomach, making sure to leave a wet trail of his saliva, marking your body as his. “Please, Kakashi. Stop teasing,” you begged breathlessly. “Not yet, baby. I’m going to make sure you feel loved. I’m going to take it slow-it’s been too long.” Groaning at the painstakingly slow pace Kakashi was taking with you, you could only sit there and wait for whatever he was going to do to your body next.

Kakashi continued to slowly kiss all of the sweet spots on your abdomen, making you even wetter. You forgot how this all felt, the way Kakashi’s mouth felt on your skin, his rough calloused hands holding your waist down, and the way you could moan freely out in the open. Lifting himself up hovering over your body, he kissed your lips slowly and sweetly, then pulled away and got out of bed. He reached over into the nightstand and pulled something out. A piece of cloth-made of silk, and put it over your eyes. He then got up again, grabbing something else out of the nightstand. Wondering what it was, you turned your body-attempting to somehow see out of the silk cloth over your eyes, but failing instead as you felt Kakashi’s hands on your waist. “Stay still, baby,” he hushed as you whimpered from the random contact, “tonight’s all about you. I just need you to be a good girl and stay still for me.” Grabbing both of your wrists, he tied another silk cloth around your wrists and brought them against the headboard. As he tied your wrists to the headboard, you could feel his hard cock rubbing against his pants- as if it was teasing you without needing to be inside you.

After successfully tying up your wrists, he continued to worship your body. He kissed over your body another round, causing for you to whimper louder and louder the lower he went, closer to your sopping core. You wanted to touch Kakashi-it was unfair that only he could touch you. Attempting to free your wrists from the silk ties, Kakashi stopped all contact. Whining from the loss of contact, Kakashi’s voice came beside your ear and all you heard was, “I told you to be a good girl and to stay still. We’ll get to where you want to be in a bit, baby.” After a long pause, he continued, “--will you be a good girl and stay still?” Nodding your head adamantly, he simply whispered, “good,” and continued his painstaking process.

You tried to stay still as his lips ended up on your thighs, making sure to get each and every corner of your body. The moment he spread your legs to get a better view, you closed your legs. It’d been too long since someone else other than yourself had seen your naked and bare body. “Sorry, I--” “It’s okay, baby. It’s just me. I know it’s been awhile, but I’ll make it up to you tonight,” Kakashi assured you while peeling your legs apart. You let him spread your legs apart, feeling the cool air hit your wet, sopping core. Kakashi kissed your left ankle, making sure you felt his wet tongue gliding down your calf; trailing his mouth up your thigh, getting closer to your core. Just when you thought he was going to surely reach your dripping core, he pulled away which caused a whine to leave your mouth. He then did the same thing to your right leg, kissing your right ankle, trailing his mouth and tongue down your leg to your thigh. The air hitting differently than before from his saliva on your legs.

You whimpered at his painstakingly and patient actions. Kakashi then put your legs down, and started kissing your inner thighs, teasing you where he knew you were most sensitive. Because it was your sensitive spot, your legs reacted by closing around Kakashi’s head. Using his strong hands to pull your legs apart, he asked in a deep voice, “Are you going to quit? Or do I need to leave you dripping here for the rest of the night, baby?” “No, please. I’m sorry, Kakashi,” you pleaded as you laid there, making sure your body was his to toy with for the time being. He waited until you were done fixing your posture before he brought his hand to your sopping core. With a moan leaving your mouth, you slightly squirmed under his touch before stopping, remembering to stay still. “You’re already dripping so much for me, baby. It’s making me go crazy,” Kakashi said as he starting rubbing your throbbing clit, making you moan louder and louder with every small movement.

The pace of his hand picked up against your clit, making you moan louder and louder, meanwhile attempting not to squirm. While rubbing your throbbing clit, Kakashi took your left breast into his mouth and the other in his left hand. He eventually slowly inserted one of his fingers into your dripping core. With his right hand working on your core, his mouth on your breast, and his left hand on your other breast, you felt your orgasm coming. He proceeded to insert another finger into your heat. Closer and closer. It was coming closer and building up. You felt it coming, your whimpers and moans a sign to Kakashi. Within a moment, Kakashi removed himself from your body, denying you of your orgasm. “Kakashi, please let me cum,” you begged, “why’d you do that?” “Not too fast, baby. I told you I’m taking my time tonight,” he said before kissing your lips softly. Clearly frustrated, you pouted, making sure that even though you couldn’t see Kakashi, he could see your anger and frustration.

The next thing you knew, Kakashi’s soft lips were on your pussy, making you moan and writhe while he held your hips down-both of his arms around your thighs, making sure you weren’t going anywhere. “Ka-kakashi,” you moaned at the random sensation. While eating you out, Kakashi made sure he was hitting each and every sweet spot he could reach. He made sure to lick you up and down, swirl his tongue, and even write the alphabet while holding you down. “Kakashi--please, just fuck me,” you begged while practically on the verge of tears. They weren’t tears of pain, they were tears of pleasure-from the pleasure that was almost releasing again. Your moans were getting louder and louder. It would’ve been embarrassing that the workers and anbu could hear you, but you could care less. At least they knew that Kakashi was good in bed, and that you were Kakashi’s woman.

Nearing your orgasm, Kakashi pulled away again. Disappointed, you were about to whine and complain, but your tied wrists were pulled off the headboard of the bed. Kakashi had you on his lap, both of your wrists still tied together, wrapped around his neck. Both of your legs wrapped around his waist. Before you knew it, Kakashi had both your legs over his arms and was slowly guiding you down onto his throbbing cock. Filling you up, you moaned at how much you’d missed being stretched out by Kakashi’s cock. Guiding you slowly up and down on his cock, Kakashi kept whispering into your ear how you were such a good girl for listening to him, and that you were doing such a good job. He eventually picked up the pace, making you a loud mess. Each of your moans were met with his lips on yours-attempting to at least silence some moans.

After a few more thrusts, Kakashi lifted you off his cock, taking your arms and pinning them back up onto the headboard. Forcefully flipping you onto your knees, your ass in the air, giving Kakashi a perfect view of your core. Slapping one of your ass cheeks, Kakashi kissed the other while teasing your core with his cock. Whining and attempting to push yourself onto his throbbing huge cock, Kakashi disappeared off the bed and grabbed something from the nightstand again. “Open your mouth,” he demanded. Without hesitation, you opened your mouth and felt him put a finger in your mouth followed by a gag ball. Tying the back of the gag ball onto the back of your head, Kakashi returned behind you on the bed. Grabbing a fist full of your hair, Kakashi forced you to lift your head- making the perfect arch with your back. Within a second, Kakashi was pounding into you, making you moan against the gag ball-tears forming on the rim of your eyes. Kakashi kept pounding into you, harder and harder, bringing your orgasm closer and closer, again and again. A few more thrusts and you were sure your orgasm was going to come crashing down on you. Sensing that you were close, Kakashi took your wrists off the headboard, flipping you around while you were still on his cock. Still thrusting into you, slowly this time, he took the gag ball off your head, and put your tied wrists around his neck, taking you in missionary position. Kakashi wanted to see every part of you. Picking up the once slow pace, each and every thrust getting rougher and rougher, Kakashi was about to reach his limit as well.

You couldn’t say much, just whimpering Kakashi’s name here and there but moaning louder and louder with each thrust, being overstimulated by how fast and rough Kakashi was taking you. Kakashi wasn’t kissing you to silence your loud moans anymore. In fact, he was moaning against your skin as well, groaning and growling deeply while leaving bite marks into your skin. Each and every one of his thrusts getting sloppier and sloppier, but you could care less as Kakashi brought his hand to rub your clit to get you off faster and faster. You felt the fire inside you burning up higher and higher, your moans louder and louder. With the mixture of your sweat dripping bodies, Kakashi’s cock throbbing and thrusting inside you, and your mixed moans, your orgasm was reaching. It came as a small release but grew more and more. You clenched around Kakashi’s cock as you came, breathless and speechless. He was hitting your g-spot over and over, you couldn’t contain your orgasm anymore. Your release came as you pulled Kakashi’s body closer to yours. You squirmed under Kakashi as your high came and you couldn’t contain it anymore. You could feel Kakashi cum inside you as well, filling you up and his thrusts slowing as he rammed the last few thrusts into you. Meanwhile, Kakashi was busy worshipping the other body parts of yours, making your orgasm even more intense. As your body came down from the high, you couldn’t remember much, just that everything went black.

This fire inside of you, one that had been rekindled tonight by Kakashi Hatake, your husband. It felt so good to find a release as well. A real release-not one from a pillow, your fingers, or a vibrator. It felt miraculous, but you were unsure of what had happened after being overstimulated. You woke up to the feeling of warm towels rubbing against your inner thighs as Kakashi stood above you, taking care of your worn out body. “Hi, baby,” Kakashi whispered as he kissed you with a smile on his face. With a weak smile on your face you asked Kakashi what happened after you both came. He explained that you blacked out from being overstimulated, but that you were going to be okay since he was going to take care of you for the rest of the night. Carrying you to the bathroom, you realized that Kakashi had a hot bath ready for the both of you to clean yourselves off in. Laying your head on Kakashi’s chest behind you in the bathtub, you both spoke softly about how you thought Iruka and the boys were doing and imagining what they could possibly be doing at the time as well.

After drying off, you were reaching for your suitcase to find your pajamas to wear to sleep, but Kakashi insisted that you both forget clothes altogether and sleep naked. You didn’t mind, but were afraid that an anbu or employee would walk in and see you both sleeping naked. “It’s okay, baby,” Kakashi explained, “they won’t be bothering us unless we call for them.” Pulling you into his strong arms, hot bodies pressed together, you couldn’t remember the last time Kakashi and you had spent the night simply enjoying each other’s presence and truly making love instead of having a quickie. “Baby?” you asked Kakashi, looking up at him. “What is it, babe?” “What did Iruka mean when he said that maybe there’d be another one or two on the way?” you asked curiously. “Well...we’re going to be here for an entire week, beautiful. So that means that this is only round one,” he explained and chuckled as he saw your wide eyes realizing what Iruka meant by one or two more on the way. Trying to avoid any other surprises, you laid your head back onto Kakashi’s chest. After laughing to himself, Kakashi whispered a gentle “goodnight” before kissing your forehead as you dozed off to sleep, dreaming about the next few rounds that were bound to come.

[winterstarqueen]

Do you think you can make a story where Sora meet autism person but Sora is confuse why she kinda different and is confuse why she nervous around her but Aqua explain everything to Sora why she different not only that but Aqua found the reader abandoned in twilght but been taking care of the young teen anyway the reader slowly trust Sora and become close friends and Sora introduced his friends like Riku Donald Goofy Axel and Ven so yeah

You’re a good friend. (Sora x autistic female reader.)

(Warning: fluff and bullies. This was hard to write.)

Sora was going to Twilight Town on his own. He had to go find the clues to finding the black box. So,he began asking around. Suddenly he felt a tap on his shoulder. “Oh?” He asked turning around. You looked down and tried to talk to him. “I...think...I saw someone...Um..” You said. Recently you had been seeing a guy in a black coat looming around town. You frowned. You couldn’t quite give him eye contact and your voice had a different tone to it. “Okay. Can you tell me what that person looked like?” He asked. You were getting all nervous especially when you could feel him looking at you. You tried to look at him in the eyes. But,you couldn’t. He titled his head in confusion. Why couldn’t you look at him and why were you like this? Did he do something wrong? No he just met you. So,how could he say something bad? In the meantime you were kinda shocked. Normally someone would walk away from you by now. Because they thought that you were rude. You kept on trying. “I think...I..” You began. That was when Aqua came up to you. “(Y/n) there you are. I got your favorite frozen treat.” She said handing you your treat. “T-Thanks..” You said not quite looking at her. “It’s not a problem. I made sure it’s just how you like it. Oh? Sora what are you doing here?” She asked. “I have to find information about the black box.” Sora said. You walked over to the information board while eating your treat. Just to see if there was new games. “I haven’t seen anything here.” She said. “Your friend has though. But,she can’t get the words out. I’m wondering did I say something bad?” Sora asked. “No. It’s just (Y/n)’s mind works differently then ours. It’s hard for her to communicate with others. But,that doesn’t make her less important than us.” Aqua said. Sora nodded. “Yeah. Hey could I talk to her caretaker like her parents. I want to know how to talk to her.” He asked. Sora wanted to know more about you. You looked at the posters. Like you were fixed on that object. Sora wanted to be friends with you. But,he didn’t want to scare you. Maybe your family and Aqua could tell him how to talk to you.

“(Y/n) doesn’t have any family. I found her one day while clearing the area of heartless. She was all alone. So,I decided to take her in as a younger sister. She doesn’t have many friends.” She said. Sora was a bit surprised to hear this. You seemed really nice. People just had to give you a chance and he was willing to. Maybe his friends will give you a chance also. “Really? I know let’s have her meet our friends.” Him and Aqua approached you. “(Y/n) your treat is melting.” She said. “Sorry...It’s just...I really like the posters.” You said. “They are pretty cool.” Sora said smiling. You ate some of your treat before Aqua handed you a napkin. She knew that most of the time you didn’t like sticky things. You cleaned up your hand and thanked her again. After that you finished your treat. “You’re welcome. (Y/n) this is Sora. He’s a friend of mine.” She said. You looked at your shoe laces before trying to look at him. “H-Hi. I...wasn’t angry before...” You said a bit worried that he got the wrong idea about you. “I know.” “I told Sora about you and he wants to be your friend.” “R-Really?” You asked. Most people thought that you are odd except for Aqua. You were surprised that he would give you a chance. You felt a rain drop on your head. You didn’t like this feeling. To anyone else this would just be a little drop of rain. But,to you it felt cold and rough. “I-It’s going to rain.” You whispered looking up. “Let’s go home.” She said knowing that you didn’t like the feeling of rain. Aqua didn’t bring the umbrella. So,you had to be quick. The three of you went inside the house. There you showed Sora your room. “Wow! I haven’t seen a room like this before. It’s so cool!” Sora said upon seeing your special spot. It had a comfortable chair and your favorite lamp. It also had a lot of cute squishy toys on the shelf. “What are you doing?” He asked looking at you. “Playing video games.” You lied looking at you computer. You added data on the heartless to your VR system. You had to train somehow. “That’s a nice computer.” “T-thank you. I-I saw that man in a black coat the other day...” You said trying to tell him. You were going to follow him. However,Aqua found you and dragged you back to town. She is very kind and caring. But,you kinda want to help her protect the town. You love this place so much. “Can you tell me where he is?” “I don’t know...he disappeared through a portal.” You said frowning. Sora looked down. “Sorry.” You felt bad. Because you could have got some answers from him. “No that’s okay. I’ll find him soon.” He said. You frowned before asking. “Do...friends ask for favors?” “Sometimes yes.” “C-Can you help me make more friends?” You asked trying to look at him. He nodded. “Of course. I have friends in this town. I’ll introduce them to you tomorrow.” He said with a smile. You nodded. After all it was getting late and he didn’t contact the others yet. After saying good bye to you and Aqua he left. He took one last look at your cute little house. Sora could see you waving to him. He smiled and waved back. Although he just met you he liked being friends with you and wanted to get to know you more.

The next day you and Aqua went to the clock tower. There was about ten people. Because Sora was extremely excited. The amount of people kinda made you a little uncomfortable. “Do you want to call this off?” Aqua asked you. You shook your head and walked up to them. You looked down and held out a bag full of cold treats. Sora told you that they loved frozen treats. You were scared of these people. “H-Here. You can eat them together.” You said. “You got us ice cream? Thank you.” You heard a girl say. “Yeah thanks (Y/n).” Sora said. You looked up for a second to see Sora smiling at you. You met the Twilight Town gang and to your surprise they accepted you. If you felt uncomfortable both Sora and Aqua would try to make you feel better. By walking away from the group for a little bit. Even though Sora didn’t know everything about your autism. He still tried to help in anyway that he could. You got to know his other friends too. One day everyone was going to the islands to play on the beach. “Are you sure that you want to go?” Aqua asked you. You nodded. You were really close with all of Sora’s friends. After all they are your friends too and you actually wanted to have fun with them. The two of you went to the islands to meet them. “You made it.” Sora said with a huge smile. You nodded. “Can I hug you?” He asked unsure if you liked hugs or not. “Yes.” You said. Sora hugged you gently and smiled at you. Everyone was have a good time. Even you. That was before you saw a group of heartless head to the other side of the island. You went there to get rid of them. With everyone still playing the game. They didn’t hear or see you leave. You saw a small group of teens hanging out. The heartless were going to attack them. You pushed the main girl aside and summoned your keyblade to fight the heartless. You defeated the heartless. But, apparently the main girl of the group got mad. “What did you do?!” She yelled. “I-I’m sorry...there was a...” You began while looking away. “Speak up! I can’t hear you!” She yelled. “Well,I...uh,” “Why can’t you look at her?!” A boy asked. “It’s just...I have autism...and I...have trouble communicating..” You said feeling a little better. If they knew. Then maybe they would accept you and be friends with you too. Just like Sora and his friends did. “You’re just shy. You don’t have that.” As she said those words you got confused and your head was hurting. Were you lying? Was the doctor who saw you wrong? “But,I...” “But,nothing. If you actually had that. You would be acting a whole lot different. My dad is a doctor for people who have disabilities and he knows a whole lot more then you. You are faking to get attention. Well it’s not working on me. You are a liar!” She said. You felt tears fall down your cheeks. You didn’t understand her. Why was she saying this? “I’m...not..” You said trying to look at her. You were trying to tell them that “I know people who have autism and you don’t have it.” Her friend said. “Stop crying and acting like this! I hate lies!” She said pushing you over. You got up and walked away still not understanding. What was wrong with you then? Did you just do this to get attention? Your head was hurting bad. “Hey. (Y/n) I want to show you something.” Sora said with a huge smile on his face. However it disappeared upon seeing you crying. “What’s wrong?” He asked. Soon enough you had your friends surrounding you. This made you feel crowded. “Give her some space.” Riku said making them back up. They didn’t want to overwhelm you. It didn’t matter because you still were upset.Sora then grabbed your hand gently and showed you the secret spot.

You sat down on a rock and Sora handed you an adorable soft yet squishy bunny. “Can I hug you?” He asked. You slowly nodded. He put his arms around you gently. You told him everything. “W-What’s wrong with me? I-I don’t understand..maybe I am lying..” You asked crying. “It’s not you. It’s them. They think that everybody is the same and don’t realize how everyone’s mind works differently. Even if you have autism. They forget that you’re still a person and you have feelings too.” Sora said. “I-I just want to be a good friend...I want to talk and communicate like how all of you do.” You said frowning. “Just because your mind works differently doesn’t mean that you’re not good friend. I’ve seen how you treat Aqua and everyone else. Including me.” Sora said looking at you. This was the first time someone has ever said something like this to you. “I-I don’t understand.” You said frowning. “You’re a really good friend just the way you are.” Sora said. “Really?” You asked tearing up again. He nodded. You hugged him. You learned that not everyone understand or accept you. But,you realized that as long as you had your friends and people who cared about you. You will be okay. You smiled and said. “Thank you.”

[sourcherrybomb]

SoKai Week 2020 - Day 6 - One More For the Road

Synopsis: At an unknown time, in an unknown place, Kairi asks Sora for one more of his beloved stories.

(There are two more bonus sketches at the end of the oneshot!)

Sneak Peek: “What are some of the more… romantic ones you know, then?” 

Tags: Romance, All Ages, F/M

Prompt for the Day: Connection / Fate

Words: 1k

Fanart by: Popipapepu (Fiverr)

---

“Hey Sora?” 

“Yeah Kairi?”

“Tell me a story.”

“Right now?”

“Yeah, right now!” 

“Kairi, as much as I’d love to-”

“Oh I know you would.” 

“I’m just not too sure if there’s enough time for that right now.”

“Come on, please?”

“It’s just that I promised everyone that we’d be quick about this, I don’t wanna leave them worried, you know?”

“Listen, everyone’s doing fine right now! I’m sure they wouldn’t mind waiting just a little bit longer.”

“You’re really pushing- Oh come on, don’t give me that face!”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Yeah right! That’s the face you always make.”

“Nuh uh.”

“Yuh huh!”

“Sora you might as well just give up now, this face always gets you and you know it!”

“Get real! Look at my face and how your stupid one doesn’t affect me at all!”

“...”

“...”

“...”

“Okay fine, one story!”

“Haha! Score one for Kairi!”

“So which one is it gonna be this time around? Altair and Vega like usual?”

“Sounds tempting, but honestly I think I’d like to hear a new one.”

“A new one, huh? Did I ever tell you about Aquila? How about Endymion or Bismarck?”

“As much as I love hearing you talking about stars and constellations, maybe something from one of the worlds you’ve been to.”

“I mean from our perspective right now, how could you even tell the difference between stars and other worlds?”

“Hey, don’t get smart with me! If I wanted snark I’d talk to Riku or Axel.”

“What can I say, they’ve rubbed off on me. Anyways, what kind of story would you want to listen to anyways?”

“I know I turned it down, but something like Altair and Vega. Except maybe a more happy ending.”

“It always comes back to them, huh?”

“What can I say, I relate to it. Especially after all we’ve been through. A happier ending would be nice, maybe one where the hero and heroine get to stay together.”

“Hmm, I might have to think about this. I’ve heard so many stories from a bunch of different worlds.”

“What are some of the more… romantic ones you know, then?”

“Romantic, huh? With the same vibes as Altair and Vega… Oh, I think I got one!”

“You do? Sweet!”

“Yeah, it’s one my friends Mushu and Mulan told me. It’s called The Story of the Red String of Fate.”

“Sounds mysterious… I like it!”

“I have a feeling you will!”

“Hey now, don’t look all satisfied when you haven’t even told me the story yet.”

“Okay, okay. Let me start then.”

There once was a young noble girl and the son of a stablehand.

Bored with her life, she desired adventure, something the boy and his horses were more than willing to entertain.

Over time, the stablehand became smitten with the noble girl. In secret, she returned his affection.

They kept this romance a secret until they grew into young adults. They planned to elope and leave by horseback when the time came.

However, war broke out in their country. 

The noble girl and stablehand realized that they would be separated. She would have to stay in the safety of her castle while the stablehand would be sent to war.

Wanting him to always have a way to remember her, the noble girl asked the stablehand to close his eyes. Agreeing, she unwound a red string from her royal garments. 

Cutting the thread in half, she tied one piece on her finger and the other on his.

Shocked by this, the stablehand declared that he would come back to her and return the keepsake hundredfold.

After this, the two were separated. For many years the war raged on, the noble girl becoming a noblewoman.

When the war finally came to an end, all the soldiers who survived returned home. In disguise, the noblewoman looked for her lover amongst the common soldiers, but could not find him. 

After days of searching, she resigned herself to the idea that the stablehand had died in battle.

In memory of him, she decided to keep the red string tied on her finger.

The next day, the noblewoman’s father approached her and told her that she was to be wed to one of the war heroes that fought for their country. 

Hiding her dejection, she thanked her father and followed him to meet her future husband. It was a soldier around her age.

When her father left the two alone, the soldier looked at the noblewoman. Smiling, he politely asked her to close her eyes. Uncaringly, she closed them.

When asked to open her eyes, the first thing she saw was a gorgeous red dress made of the finest silk. Surprised, the noblewoman asked the soldier why he had gifted her such an extravagant engagement present.

Laughing, the soldier simply responded that he was only keeping the promise that he made to her.

Briefly confused, it took a moment for the noblewoman to look at the soldier’s hand that was holding the dress. 

On it was a red string, tied on the same finger as the one she had done the same to the stablehand all those years ago.

Realizing who this soldier was, she pulls the former stablehand into an embrace that, to the two, felt like it lasted for ages.

She and her husband would wear the red strings on their hands for the rest of their lives.

“So? How was- Kairi are you okay?”

“Hm? Yeah! Just… Something flew into my eye for a moment. Shouldn’t I be asking you the same?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Geez, just don’t rub your eyes too hard like that. You’ll just make more come out, which will do the same to me.”

“I know, I know…”

“...”

“...”

“...”

“...”

“Hey Sora?”

“Yeah Kairi?”

“Thanks for telling me one last story. I can’t help but feel like it’ll be… a while until I could hear another one from you.”

“You’re not wrong about that. You were right about something, though.”

“And what was that?”

“That I love telling you stories like this. I’d love to tell you another one, but I think we’ve run out of the little time we’ve had left at this point…”

“I had a feeling… Hey Sora?”

“Yeah Kairi?”

“Come here for a sec.”

“Sure, but we’re going to have to- mmph?!”

“...”

“...”

“Sorry… Just had to get one for the road. Sora, promise me one thing.”

“Anything…”

“When you come back to me, you better return that a hundredfold. Promise?”

“Promise.”

---

This was another little experiment for my writing. Just dialogue, nothing else. This totally wasn’t a last-minute decision in order to get something out before the deadline for Day 6. Nope, not at all. Still, I had fun writing it.

Just like with my Day 5 entry, I got to make my own spin on a legend. The Red String of Fate is such a prevalent tale in modern romantic media that it’s fun to see how different writers and authors use it (with various success)

As I said, this was my entry for Day 6 of SoKai Week 2020! The themes for the day were “Connection” and/or “Fate”. Once again, shoutout to the Sokai: Destined Oath Discord server, and a special thanks to the server member Gee for acting as my Beta Reader.

Thanks for Reading!

---

*Bonus Sketch Commissions*

[i-believe-in-soriku]

Essay Part 2: The Deepest Relationship

Now that I have explained how Riku is a strong character with is OWN development and his OWN personanity, I can talk about his relationship with Sora. Sora is also a developed character, even if his evolution is less spectacular than Riku's. I'm not here to talk about Sora so I'll probably give you links to wonderful analysis I've read.

If I mention that, it's because I want to point at something which is very important in terms of writing. To write a relationship between two characters (or more, but here it's two), the two characters involved must be developed. That's important to understand the dynamics between them, why they like each other, why their relationship exists and why it works. And this rule applies to all kinds of relationships.

Indeed, those conditions are filled with Sora and Riku's relationship.

Actually, the producer himself admits that their relationship is the very heart of the series:

"The fact is that the main focus of the series is Sora and Riku; how their friendship develops, but also how they grow up."

Now, let's see how their relationship works. Because it works. Whether you see it as friendly or romantic doesn't matter, it works the same.

The two of them were childhood friends. It is told in BBS and KH: they used to spend all their time together, inventing stories and dreaming about adventures. They kind of promised to protect each other at the really early age of 4 and 5.

Aqua: Sora, do you like Riku?

Sora: Of course I like him, he's my best friend!

Aqua: Good. So then, if something happens, and Riku is about to get lost--or say, he starts wandering down a dark path alone--you make sure to stay with him and keep him safe. That's your job, Sora, and I'm counting on you to do it, okay?

*Sora nods*

As they grew up, a distance has settled between them. I have already talked about what caused that distance. KH is not the best moment of their friendship but, believe it or not, it is essential to its development. Both guilt and love pushed Riku to seek to make amends with Sora, to protect him:

Sora, on his side, wasn't resentful against Riku at all -all he wanted was to find his friend back and make things the way they were before.

But it soon became clear to them that such a thing was impossible. Too many things had changed due to Riku's actions and the hardships they had to face. They had to stick the pieces back, and tried their best to do so. Sora tried to find back Riku during CoM and KH2.

Sora (beginning of KH2): Well, I'm gonna go look for Riku. Then he and I can go back to the islands together.

Riku tried to help Sora recover his memories and he watched his friend during his sleep.

And it didn't mattered to them that one year has passed, their goal never changed. When Sora woke up, Riku kept on protecting him, Sora kept on searching for him. Both of them wanted to recover something that mattered to them - that is to say, their best friend. Is it forced? No. It follow the events of KH. It is the consequence of what happened before.

When they finally find each other during the events of KH2, the feelings expressed by Sora (happiness, relief) and by Riku (shame, doubt) underline how much they care about each other.

Sora: Why didn't you let me know you were okay?

That's not like Sora's and Kairi's reunions, where all we can see is a promise - something that Sora and Riku also share - and mere relief, joy. I don't say Sora is not happy to be reunited with Kairi and vice-versa. It's just that when they do, the poor development Kairi is given prevents these scenes from being as powerful as Sora's and Riku's reunion(s).

Indeed, when they found each other in KH2, after a rough fight with Xemnas, what is the first thing that happens between them?

A heart-to-heart conversation.

That is sweet, and illustrates that, yes, they share a special bond. But what I like the most with this scene in the Dark Margin, is that it's the undeniable proof of what I've said before.

Those boys are trying to line the scattered pieces of their frienship up - and the way they do it is simple, touching. They are just being honest with each other while talking about their past feelings for each other - and also the one they experience in the present moment:

Riku: What I said back there...about thinking I was better at stuff than you... To tell you the truth, Sora... I was jealous of you.

Sora: What for?

Riku: I wished I could live life the way you do. Just following my heart.

Sora: Yeah, well, I've got my share of problems, too.

Riku: Like what?

Sora: Like...wanting to be like you.

Riku: Well, there is one advantage to being me... Something you could never imitate.

Sora: Really? What's that?

Riku: Having you for a friend.

Sora: Then I guess...I'm okay the way I am. I've got something you could never imitate too.

That is so sincere that I don't get why people keep on saying that their relation is forced.

Their story, however, is not over yet. Dream Drop Distance is the the highlight for the writing of their common story. I have already written a post about their bonds in KH3D, so I'll resume what I said, and add new elements. DDD is pretty smart because it depicts the link between Sora and Riku even though they're separated during almost the whole game.

At the beginning of the game, Riku and Sora are at Master Yen Sid's Tower, and he says that they have to pass the Mark of Mastery Exam. It is really important to Riku, but for Sora, it is quite useless. Still, Sora decides to pass the exam with Riku in order to motivate and support him.

Sora: But that's a formality, right? I already proved myself. Me and the king, and Riku--we can take on anything. Right, Riku?

Riku: I don't know. I think that in my heart, darkness still has a hold. Walking that path changed me. I'm not sure if I'm ready to wield a Keyblade. Maybe I do need to be tested.

Sora: Riku... Then count me in. Put me through the test! Just watch--me and Riku will pass with flying colors!

This element shows that the two of them trust each other. Which is the proof that their conversation on that dark beach has definitely recovered their bonds - their trust in each other, the fact that they can rely on each other no matter what.

That is an evolution, not just a "return to the way it was before". Because the dynamic between them has changed. Sora is the one Riku rely on. Sora is the one "in advance". Sora is the one confident and cool. (at least in Riku's eyes). But Riku is not jealous anymore. That's different.

The game has also a lot of interesting scenes. In Traverse Town, for instance, we """learn""" (in case it wasn't clear until that moment...) that Sora is Riku's most important person.

Beat: I just...wanna protect the one person who matters.

Riku: I know the feeling.

On Sora's side, by his own words, they are always together, even when they are separated:

Sora: Don't worry. He's with me--even when it might seem like he's not.

In La Cité des Cloches, the Quasimodo/Riku parallel shows that Riku his still holding back stuff inside of him.

Quasimodo: Master Frollo--he made me live inside the bell tower, but the real walls were the ones I built around my heart. You helped me see that, Riku.

Riku: I was...speaking from...personal experience.

Given the context, it is clear that it is a reference to Riku's feelings for Sora, especially if we take a look at Quasimodo's feelings for Esmeralda, and Esmeralda's and Phœbus words.

In Monstro, Riku says that Sora is his conscience, and even talks about "his stupid grin", what's.. extremely tender?!

Jiminy: You must have somebody--a friend you can talk to?

Riku: Yeah...actually, I do. That stupid grin he's always wearing--he's the best teacher I could ever have.

The Symphony Of Sorcery is also full of elements, like the fact that Sora considers that Riku is always there for him...

Sora: Don't worry. I've got a friend out there who will help. He's always picking up the slack for me.

...which was actually proved in game:

So yeah, the game does not only say that Riku is here for Sora, it actually shows that. And the fact that they share a "heart song" is purposely here to illustrate how strong their relationship is.

Mickey: It's like each of you is holding on to a little part of the other. Your hearts are always in tune, so they're free to sing.

Mickey even says that, when they're together, their heart are "free to sing". And it is true: they can be their true selves together, they know they can trust each other, they are comfortable with each other.

Riku being Sora's Dream Eater is a major point in his character but ALSO another proof that he cares really much about Sora and that it is instinctive, natural - he doesn't even realize it until someone points out this """detail""".

Another scene that, for me, is important to proove that their relationship is NOT forced is the moment when Riku is named Master. Sora is not upset, he's sincerely happy for Riku:

Sora: I knew you were gonna pass with flying colors. This is just so awesome!

Watching his reactions, it's easy to see that he knew how important it was to Riku:

And finally, KH3 is the consequence of this development. Riku and Sora have achieved a balance together, between trust in each other and independence. In this game, Sora wants to protect Riku, Riku wants to protect Sora - and he actually found the strenght to do it. Riku cheers Sora up, believes in him, the same way Sora did for him before:

In the end, Riku is, once again, the one who's saving Sora. In fact, I would say they constantly save each other - sometimes save and being saved is the same thing.

So, yeah, I don't know if it was clear... but what I meant is that every single KH game where those boys are present - that is to say the large majority of them - shows how they both evolve individualy but also how their relationship evolves to become something better, something greater. The way it is written follows a perfect logic, a dynamic that corresponds to the state of the two characters and the context in which the action takes place.

Once again, regarding the care that is taken to tell their story, it is unfair to say that their relationship is forced. ESPECIALLY if it is compared to Sora's relation to Kairi. It is simply incomparable.

Intro • Part 1

[what-ever-happened-to-chip]

The Adventures of Squall

Squall's observations. Hmm. I don't know what Rinoa wants me to do. I guess I'll ask Eli for his notes and just give them to her. *knock knock* "Cheerio good boy, may  I help you with anything?" "Do you have notes on that thing Christian was talking about?" "Ahh you've came to the right residence, just let me....hold on just a moment..." He began digging through piles of loose paper, flipping through notebooks, all whilst mumbling to himself. "Alas! Here is one of my more rudimentary charts, but it shall accomplish what you're intial questions preface." It was hard to concentrate, he was talking very fast and using a lot of words that I didn't know. Akio says because of my ASD I sometimes get what he calls "verbal dyslexia" and it's hard for me to comprehend what other people are saying, especially if they talk different from me. I'll have to concentrate very hard if I don't want Rinoa mad at me again. "But see this is where it gets confusing, we have many great forces here, coincidence? Doubtfully so, but these overlapping characteristics I believe have come here for a reason. Many of our members, including myself, have had interactions with Christos, Christian you call him, and I can't imagine why he would let so many familar faces corner him in the same scenario, unless of course he had a plan for each individual. See, I believe..." He pulled out a chair for me that I sat in. I took out my notebook so I could remember what to tell Rinoa. "If you look here on this chart.." he pulled out a large beige canvas with several pictures pinned to it, threads of twine connecting different ones. "First you see here that Christos comes to my noble world and plants himself as Cyrus, the destroyer of worlds. He taints Noah and I am his right hand man. He tells me a great many things, we can go into later. Do realize this isn't in chronilogical order, I have no way of telling yet the timeline of all our respective worlds. "Next he plants himself as an alien, "Jenova" he calls it on Gaia and and infects the whole planet. The only one to save it was Aerith who possesses extrodainary spiritual powers. She was the last chance tho and aside from her sacrifice Geostigma went on beyond her time..." "His next target, alas, Thomas. A young, troubled boy whom Christian fictionalized a companion for. An alter ego of sorts and made thomas believe it was himself. I believe he might have been weak and needed a human body to recover on. At some point Christian went to Aiden and found him by the Sanguis River, which is the border between our world and ubi requiescit dolor or "where sorrow rests. I haven't been able to spot where he showed up in Harry's world, but I do know he was there at some point. He likely was only a death eater of no great importance. Same with Roxas, Christian probably took the form of a nobody, which of course begs the question...." It was really hard for me to take notes as fast as he talked. I was really tryign to spell words better to get in the habit of it. Reading was easy for me, but writing made me nervous. I'll just get the names and maybe i'll remember. "can one become a nobody without having a form first? Perhaps that's it. He was a formed human on one planet and when he was almost destroyed at some theroetical part, he latched onto Thomas but only came back as a nobody which of course is an allusion. Details, details, but where were we? Oh yes, next on his infamous walk through time was of course Aangs world where he brought the powers of darkness to a seemingly balanced world, probably dating back to around...." I needed to yawn, but it seemed rude. I wonder how he knew all of this. He seemed confused himself. Maybe I should talk to some other people. Rinoa will be mad if I only talk to him. I should have gotten more information earlier.

“And of course Akio’s unfortunate fate with him, presenting himself as illusions to drive the man mad I’m sure. I do believe he could do that, his evil seems endless.” He paused and looked around at all his charts and papers. this will be a good time to excuse myself. "I have to use the restroom, excuse me" He didn't seem to notice me leave, he kept talking and looking at his papers. While I was walking I saw Harry with a plastic cup pressed up to a door. As I walked closer to him he dropped the cup and ran. I went to the kitchen. "Hey Zack" He was drinking really fast out of a big water bottle. Some of it was spilling on his black shirt. "Heya buddy, I broke 20 in 80, my new personal best. Gotta love the summer time." "What?" "Oh 20 miles in an hour and 20, a 4 minute average." "...." "So do you know anything about why we had to go to Camp A and Camp B?" "Ulquiorra seemed pretty on edge, everyone getting riled up like that. Maybe it's time for the old man to retire!" "What about the dark world place?" "I don't know much about that, but I tell you I sure don't know want to get to know it better if you know what I mean. Anyways bud, lactic acid builds on stiff muscles, gotta do my cool down." He then clapped me a little hard on the back, it was sort of uncomfortable, then left the room. I continued walking around looking for someone else to talk to. Rikku is on the couch watching a cartoon called the Powerpuff Girls. She is flossing on the couch? Why isn't she in the bathroom. I'll wait until she's done. I'll wait around the corner so she doesn't know I saw her doing it. After about 70 second she dropped the floss on the ground. There was a garbage can right on the table, but I guess she didn't see it.

"Hey" "Uhhh hey..." Her eyes never left the screen. "Do you know anything about the dark spirit place Christian was talking about?" "Hmmm, there was this one story Buddy used to tell us to scare us, it seems like the same thing and i don't know with all this world collide bs i wouldn't surprised if it's the same. "Do you know the story?" "I don't know ask Buddy, i'm busy." "..." Okay I wonder where Buddy is. I heard a basketball hit the basket outside. Sometimes we play basketball together. "Yo, yo, yo man 3 on 3, pussy slayers vs bitch playas." "AW SHIT" "wooof woof woof" "Which ones which?" asked Aang. "My brutha you knows yous a slaya!" on that they bumped their fists together. "I guess that means i'm with you guys" Tifa said and smiled. That means I'm on Adam's and Riku's team. I played basketball up to 21 points. My team lost. I'm good at making baskets, but not as much at passing and working with my team. "Aight, aight, how bout a smoke break and then maybe we'll give ya'll a rematch." As they all began to disperse, I walked up to Buddy. "Rikku said you could tell me a story about the dark place." "Rikku tol you that?" "Yes. The one you use to tell her." He looked both ways and then straight at me. "I don know nuthin about no story." "Okay, sorry." I guess I better ask someone else. I was getting tired. I should have done this earlier, but I see  Rinoa tomorrow. I think it would be a good idea to ask Thomas. I'll see if he's in his room. *knock knock* He opened the door slow, but wide and stared at me. "Can you tell me anything about the dark place." He looked surprised and happy. Akio tells me sometimes people's facial expressions don't always show what they mean, but it's a good indicator if I'm confused. I think he wants me to come in. He was sitting in his computer chair and he had clothes folded on his bed so I don't want to sit there and get them dirty. "I find it rather odd you're the one asking me this question. Eli wasn't surprising one bit, but it's not like he'd listen if I did tell him anything." "So you don't know anything?" "Don't know anything? Yeah right. I know everything that I need to. And ultimately however this goes, there's nothing left for me to lose." "...." "I must admit it does get rather boring having to hold back such genius in my mind. Feigning ignorance on all matters that go on here just to be able to thrive. This truly is the best case scenario for me and I know i'm not alone." He was frowning now. I didn't say anything so I know he probably isn't mad at me. I've learned that most people just keep talking if you say nothing. It helps a lot because I usually have nothing to say. "Are you looking for the nitty gritty, the gory details, or simple how're you're involved?" "Rinoa wanted to me to ask people about it. She thinks we're being lied to." "HAH. Just now she thinks she's been lied to?? Foolish girl." "Rinoa is smart." "Perhaps she is, all the same it's all clouded by her ego." "....." "So rinoa wants to know about the dark world they've after all this time brought up. You have to know though, Simon wouldn't have brought it up if there wasn't some gain to him, some strategic reason for his timing. He's a puppet master, he probably knew you would be here talking to me. It's all going just to his plan.....or perhaps he thought I would kick you out and that would keep him advantageous. But he knew that i'd knew that he was planning that." I was getting pretty confused. "Who's Simon?"

He frowned at me. "He's Christian." "Okay." "That's right "Christian" has had many names, many forms. He's wormed his way into many of lives and took everything they had with them. A leech. Of course a leech needs to eat too." I had been in his room almost 15 minutes. It was probably time to talk to someone else. "The dark world, purgatory, the eternal space, the fog, every world has a different name for it. Some are ignorant, but most know that not everyone gets the "good death". It's origin is beyond me, but I know what it is now. And I know he wants to go there. He's looking for something. Or maybe he's helping someone else." "I have to go now." "Then go, i'm not keeping you if that's what you thought" Thomas sneered at me. "..." *door shuts* As I left Thomas's room, Zidane came in really quickly from the front door. He looked really skinny these days. He pulled off his knapsack and begin looking for something deep within it. I don't know why he still uses his old knapsack, a good messenger bag would look a lot nicer and be a lot less stressful on his shoulders. "OKAY DADDY'S HOME, who wants to party???" As people began pouring into the dining room, they gathered around as he poured a large bag of cocaine out onto the clean glass table top. I remembered when I went fishing the other day how when I dropped bread crumbs in little fish would swarm to all try and get the food at once. It reminded me of that. I used to do cocaine sometimes with Irvine and his friends, but Akio says that it might make my OCD and ASD worse. I didn't want to mess with it, I had already had a stressful day. That's good enough for now. I'll just go to bed and maybe in the morning someone will talk about it and I won't have to ask. I did my bedtime rituals in the normal order, brush teeth, clean face, comb hair, change out of all clothes into two pairs of fresh underwear, socks, and pajamas. It was nice tonight I could turn off the air conditioner. I rested my head on the pillow. The cocaine was making everyone rowdy and I could hear it. Great I could hear Aiden yelling from his room that was right next to mine, on the side my bed was pushed against. I've asked Garnet multiple times if he could switch rooms, but she says no one wants his room cause it smells like blood and has a bunch of holes in the walls. And I was definitely not going to switch my room, everyone was right in it, it didn't need to change. I don't want to spy on people, but last time I said I wouldn't do what Rinoa wanted she threatened to not talk to me for a month. Instead, she talked, or more so bitched, the entire month at me, never letting me have some peace and quiet. I don't want that again.

I took out my nightly form to see how I’’m doing and filled it out.

Anxiety: 8/10

Mood: 6/10

Insomnia: 2/10

OCD: 7/10

Triggers: Talking to people, missing lunch because no one would leave the kitchen, having to ask questions, shoe lace breaking and not having a replacement.

Medication issues: None

Overall: 6/10

He kept yelling, but I could hear another voice too. He often talked to himself so at least when someone else was there, it was only half yelling. I really didn’t want to do it, but I felt Rinoa demanding me why I didn’t. I didn’t like lying to her.

   I remembered Harry earlier. I poured my water cup out and pressed my ear against the bottom of it. "Denny if that's the case, what do you have to lose?" "EVERYTHING. DON'T YOU GET IT!!! I've been waiting too long for you to FUCK things up." "Well I do admire your dilligence Denny, you truly never give up." "I will never give up, I will never stop until things are right." "Being when you have Jenn back?" "NO SHIT. All you are is a pawn. There is no other reason you're here." "The life of a king or the life of a pawn, really only is affected by perspective. I take my place with pride and am grateful for whatever else life I get to cherish." "I've waited long enough, i'll wait forever, but I sure as fuck don't want to." "Aside from your said goals, I am curious, did J really return from there?" "Fuck if I know. It has nothing to do with me." "There feels as if there is things you aren't telling me Denny." "WELL HOW THE FUCK DID IT GO LAST TIME I DID." "Please.....I want to help." "As long as Christian holds up his end of the deal, I won't need to use you. And he has the same goal." "I get the feeling you two are not alone in your quest. Are there others?" "Yeah but they're not important really. Just gotta an eye on them." "Even more useless than I?" "No one could be more useless than you." "Ahh how appropriate I and Lana are spending our time in this waiting room together, both readily discardable part of the larger schemes of the world. I've never felt quite so zen  before." "haha maybe they should bring Liza around and see how well you two get along." "I believe they would get along splendidly. they like the same music, both androgenous yet stunningly feminine, thrill seeking." "Ur forgetting one thing, cock makes bitches crazy, look at Jenn and Yuna. They'd be the best friends in the world if Yuna hadn't sucked my dick." "And by Jenn, you mean that girl masaqurading as your girlfriend?" "Watch it fucker." "I'm only stating your sentiment seems strangely misplaced seeing Yuna is in real danger whereas "Jenn" is only what you make her to  be" "I don't think anything has to happen to her, but if it does she knew what she was getting into." "Yes, but that was a long time ago. A long time before now I would have sacrificed myself for your well being, do you think things are the same now?" ".......what do you mean..? but you....just said...WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN??????!!!!!!!" "I was only teasing Denny, of course I'm here at your service, seeing of course you are the sole reason I am here. I don't think it's wise to betray our gods." "Heh yeah right, I'm your fucking god." "Indeed I am in religious awe." "heh yeah sure. So fucker whatchu got in the briefcase." "Zidane went and filled my reservoirs, I'm back in business" "Hook it up bitch." "I wouldn't have it any other way." After that they started talking quieter in a way that didn't bother me, Finally I can go to sleep.

[ultyso]

Okay I’m gonna talk about my thoughts with MoM now that it’s pretty much end of the month. I’ll be tagging this post for those who don’t want to see spoilers.

•I loved that the song levels were worlds. I thought it was a cute way to introduce the songs and progress through the “story” of KH.

•There was a bit of delay in where I should hit the button with the songs that it was jarring at the beginning.

•I tried to get 3 stars on everything before progressing but I wanted to see story after playing through all of KH1’s that I just ended up just playing them all once rather than multiple times if I missed a star. Still replayable tho :)

•Due to that, took about 10hrs for me to complete.

•I really liked Kairi improved in fighting against Xeha. That she made her keyblade disappear and reappear so she didn’t lose again to him just gripping her hand/keyblade.

•The whole Kairi changing to Sora was neat. But would have been cooler if Kairi got to fight Xeha for rhythm part.

•It was nice to play as her for final chapter. Bummer she doesn’t become an unlocked character or anything after beating it. Would have been nice to add her to the roster.

•She didn’t even get to be a part of the credits :c

•People already being pro with multiplayer made me pretty bummed :c I always lost so didn’t feel anything worthwhile. Thanks to 2 people who still played even tho I sucked in comparison :c

•Really wish they had an invite system for friends.

•I mainly played team BBS for my entire gameplay. I played DDD least cause BBS popped up not too much later than him. His is is only one I haven’t leveled up much lol

•I liked that the memory dives were it’s own little thing. Though it’s taking me forever to get Twilight shards to unlock the final song. Roxassssss.

•Apparently I stanned Kairi and Xion more cause they were my first music dive A+++. Took quite a few tries with Ven :,,,,)

•My most played songs ended up being: Ventus Theme, Sora (Piano Version), Simple and Clean, Tension Rising, and L’lmpeto Obscuro.

•As much as I truly dislike Frozen, Let it Go was prob easiest song to jam through 😂

•There seemed to be an issue with the boxes/barrels they often didn’t recognize my input :,,,)

•Played Co-Op mode by myself and happy they fixed the issue with inputs not working while one glides and other attacks.

•Ven’s theme was so distracting cause I kept just watching his videos and missing dgdjdgsys

•Don’t Think Twice having the “Kiss me(...)” parts on VenSo, VanVen, SR, and SK in the video👌👌👌👌

•Okay they totally could have added more scenes for Ven’s theme after the handshake scene, since he’s had more scenes past that point, but they chose not to. Which makes me hdhdgdg So every time getting to part where they hold hands and the last note being able to input “excellent” on the note, was like yes excellent, they held hands. Huehuehue

-Going into story now.-

•Okay, what I thought was going to have stronger Riku and Kairi friendship, just seemed so abysmal. Riku felt put off and awkward around her to me. Like Kairi was more of an acquaintance to him than anything 😬

•Kairi learning about her past and that Kairi was hope helped tie in what Xeha was going on about in DDD.

•I thought it was gonna be something concerning but really it was just him trying to get Kairi to Riku and Sora.

•Kairi’s job being harder with Sora in this other world. Is kinda confusing. Does she have some other role? Is it to keep Sora going? Idk.

•The whole this is a fictional world Sora is probably in like 💀 I was just like for real? The whole time. Guess fits XV’s whole “fiction based on reality.”

•So Sora got coded out of KH and programmed into a FF game on the game shelf? This what happened? 😂

•I do wonder if with where Sora is now, he’ll be hopping between other Square-esque titles or if it’ll just stay to Quadratum.

•Finding out the star being the 3rd key. Expected but bummed.

•The part that had me most annoyed is that Riku really felt to me like he didn’t care if Kairi was going or not. He only was focused on Sora 💀 Like an “okay whatever Kairi”.

•The fact she is staying behind AGAIN. Ugh.

•”Mickey go tell everyone else their efforts were pointless.”💀

•We don’t even get to see a little of what the other trios did. It really felt like “you trios aren’t important any more so we’re going to write you did something but you never did anything to begin with”.

•I seriously worry about the state of trios onwards.

•After credits having Kairi at least want to train with Aqua seems at least a little hopeful. So we’ll get at least a little Wayfinder Trio content. Hopefully Aqua trains her better than the half assed show of her in Merlin’s forest :/

•Possible VenKai now. That’s all that matters. 🙏

•They can talk to each other about how BS they keep getting treated 🥲 Ones pushed to the side. I hope they can grow together and motivate each other for their similar hardships.

•The fact they need to look into the lost masters has hope for a possible Ven game since he has strongest connection for that. Or maybe Ven and Kairi together game.

•But so far seems they’re just gonna make another SoRiku DDD fest again. So not gonna get my hopes up for a Ven game rn.

•Final thoughts,

•Gameplay: 9/10.

•Story: Idk what to rate it. I’m half and half. Interested in where they’re going. But not really vibing with Kairi being pushed aside again.

•UI: I love it 10/10

[snowflake-of-destruction]

Lost in Translation

I can’t write a quick, few line caption to save my life Part 3/8. Based off of the third picture of THIS POST and the idea that Sora just yells in dolphin when getting frustrated at his human’s slow learning curve. Read more for length again. Italics are mermish. This is dumb but so are these boys.

 @shaky-mayhemm

Part 4/? of Mermaid AU that needs a name

"Hello," Sora enunciated slowly and clearly.

"Sea Urchin," the sailor chittered back uncertainly. 

Sora shook his head and repeated, "Hello." 

"Hello," the sailor mimicked. 

Sora resisted the urge to slap his fin against the surface of the water in triumph. There was a delicate balance at play. His human had proved more skittish than the red one, even though the handsome silver sailor had technically sought him out first, if falling out of his boat could be counted. Sora would have thought pulling him back to surface and clearing his lungs of water--after a brief confusion where he'd tried to coax the human to swallow more sea to make him feel better enough to wake up--would have proven his intentions were good. He'd even brought the human a fish to eat and get his strength up, though he supposed the sailor must have been too worn out by almost drowning to be hungry because he'd batted the still flopping fish away from his mouth quite forcefully when Sora had tried to feed him. Maybe he just didn't like  to eat when he first woke up. 

 Even with these good first impressions though, the sailor had made a loud screech when he'd first noticed Sora's tail and had dug his hands into the ground and propelled himself backward as far away as he could with the limited room he was allowed on the tiny rock island jutting out of the water Sora had brought him to. He'd scrubbed his eyes with his hands and spouted a series of incomprehensible but almost angry sounding mouth noises, making Sora wish he hadn't kept quite so far a distance when he'd followed Roxas to see where he kept disappearing to (Sora had known for awhile Xion was just making up stories to cover for his twin. The day she ran out of plausible excuses like trying to fill the trench so the ocean floor was even or cleaning the shells of geriatric turtles as community service, and flat out claimed Roxas had been eaten by a whale had cinched it. Granted, Kairi had said Roxas was sneaking to the surface weeks ago, but Kairi hadn't been around when Roxas and Sora had last tried to move sand to the trenches to fill them so she didn't know how convincing that excuse sounded). If he'd been better a better spy when he'd observed Roxas meeting with the red maned sailor then maybe he'd have an idea of what mouth sounds would soothe this human. 

He'd done well enough without human words so far though, even if pantomime  was tough. There had been a major setback when Sora had swum quick circles around the rock to ask if the human felt well enough to swim with him back to proper land or try to find his boat now that the storm had passed, and the sailor had seemed to interpret this as "I am a shark about to eat you," but they'd gotten back on track and Sora had coaxed the sailor to at least trust him enough to keep to the edge of the rock instead of the middle. He almost ruined it when the silver-haired human had first felt confident enough to dip his feet in the water--to prove to himself Sora wouldn't pull him right in--and Sora had immediately swum up between his legs, but this, like the other setbacks, was eventually remedied and they were now back in that position, human sitting on the edge of the rock and Sora bracketed between his legs, arms resting above the sailor's knees, face tilted up as he tried to teach him to talk properly. If he stayed as still and calm as he could, he was sure he could avoid startling the sailor again. He'd already been tested when a hand had reached out and combed softly through his hair. He hadn't been able to help a contented sigh when he'd been petted--grateful that the human was realizing he was friendly and was being friendly back, that was the only reason--but it hadn't scared the human. just made him go pink for a moment.

"Sora," Sora pointed at his chest, then tilted his head to the side like a question.

"Sora?" the human reached out again and tentatively brushed his fingers against the smattering of scales on Sora's shoulder, like he wasn't sure if they were shells or attached to the merman since most of the rest of his upper body didn't show signs of being part fish.

Sora nodded vigorously. "Sora," he kept a hand pressed against his chest for a moment and then patted the front of the human's weird baggy detached skin over his heart. 

"Riku," the sailor supplied.

" Reee-coo? Riku! Riku, Riku Riku." Sora tested out the name, smiling at the bubbling feeling the sounds caused in his chest. 

"Sora." Riku was smiling too. Fingers gently combed through Sora's hair once more.

Sora leaned his head against the side of Riku's knee, humming the name one last time, "Riku," and debating what should come next. Something useful. Something that would help him get Riku back to where he belonged or signal him to wait while Sora went and found Roxas to help. He looked up at Riku's face to see if the human had any ideas. The sun on the surface of the water, making it sparkle and dance like it didn't below and bringing out warmth in the blue-green had nothing on Riku's eyes. "Pretty."

"Pretty," Riku agreed, while continuing to pet through Sora's hair, and the merman turned his face to the side, burying it against Riku's leg in embarrassment. The human couldn't know what he was saying.

"You weren't supposed to repeat that one. I'm not...you know. I'm just me. Even Kairi was disappointed. She didn't say it but I know she had to be. She came all the way from the Radiant Seas to see this prince she's supposed to marry...and ohh let me tell you that's awkward...or not really that awkward because I'm not sure she wants to get married either....not right away at least...What was I saying? Kairi makes me feel small because she's a pearl and I'm just like grit stuck in a clam...which also becomes a pearl I guess, but that's not the point because she also somehow makes me feel strong? Like I can do anything? Like save you. I think my whole life was leading up to saving you from drowning. Is that stupid to say since we just met?" Sora paused to gulp in air, even if the dryness of it made his throat burn a bit, and risked a glance to see how Riku was taking his rambling. He'd felt the absence of the hand in his hair and now he saw it was because Riku was covering his ears. "Sorry, you're right. That was coming on way too strong, and you probably don't care about the Kairi stuff, though I bet you would care about Kairi if you met her. You can't help it. Kairi's amazing."

Riku pushed a single finger against Sora's lips, leaning in close enough as he did that Sora was slightly concerned he'd topple into the water. "Shh" Sora went slightly cross-eyed looking at the digit and had to resist the nonsensical urge to lick it. "You need to go slow, Sora."

"I don't know what you're saying," Sora confessed.

"Pretty?" Riku tried to reorient the conversation.

"Forget that," Sora ordered.

"Pretty?" Riku tried again, thinking his pronunciation was off.

Sora yelled a noise of wordless frustration and Riku imitated him. 

"You need to stop fixating on that word. Let's pick another word. Sky. Boat. Octopus! Algae!"

"Pretty?" Riku tugged on his weird second skin as he asked the question. "Pretty?" He pulled a lock of his hair. "Pretty?" He gently bopped Sora's nose. 

"Yes, you're really pretty. You're the prettiest thing I've ever seen. No! Not me. I already told you that I'm not pretty! Technically you're not pretty either. I should have said handsome but....you are so pretty, but you really need to focus."

"Too loud," Riku frowned for emphasis. "Too fast. Slow down."

"I don't know what you're saying!" Sora found himself speaking more loudly as he repeated his earlier words.

"I wish I knew what you were saying," Riku sighed.

"I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE SAYING!" Sora made large hand gestures, waving by his mouth, to help the conversation.

"Too loud," Riku just spoke more insistently and mimed covering his ears.

"THOSE ARE EARS. EARS!" Once Sora started yelling, it was hard to stop.

"Too loud."

"EARS! WHAT YOU ARE SAYING SOUNDS NOTHING LIKE EARS!"

"Too loud!"

"EEEEEEEEEAR!" He'd been pretty loud, but maybe Riku was still losing the nuance.

"How do I get you to stop screeching? That's too high a pitch for me, Sora." 

"YES, I'M SORA! GOOD JOB RIKU. NOW SAY EAR!"

"Pretty Sora?"

"NOT THIS AGAIN. NO, SORA NOT PRETTY. RIKU PRETTY. PRETTY RIKU. SAY EAR FOR ME, PRETTY RIKU!"

"Too loud!" Riku was bending down again so their foreheads almost touched.

"TOO LOUD? DO YOU WANT ME TO COPY YOU? TOO LOUD! WHAT IS THAT?" Sora switched between English and mermish.

Riku sighed heavily and leaned back. "Sora, please stop screaming at me. I can hear you perfectly fine. How can I make you understand?"

"IT'S OKAY. I STILL LIKE YOU, RIKU, EVEN IF YOU CAN'T SAY EAR," Sora encouraged.

There was a long moment of silence as both boys tried to think of the best way to be understood. Sora wracked his brain for any human words he'd overheard Roxas say. 

"Kiss?"

That was the wrong word. The human's chest was as still as it had been when Sora needed to press the water out of it. Come to think of it, his color was retreating too, leaving him the same sickly pale as when he'd been waterlogged.

"DO YOU NEED MORE AIR AGAIN?" Sora tried to push himself out of the water, intent on blowing air into Riku's mouth like he had while he'd been unconscious.

Riku scrambled backward to the center of the rock.

Great. Another setback. They'd figure out this communication thing sooner or later.

[landprince]

I thrive off validation so here’s the soriku WIP so far I’ve got more left to write and this will likely be changed another dozen times before I’m satisfied

straight up I wanna know if I made it too spicy because my partner has now worried me about that

Fear held him tightly in its icy grasp. It was a chain that wrapped around his torso and kept him tethered to the kitchen floor, it kept him from running even if he currently had the ability to realize that he should really be running. 

His heart, such a frantic thing now, fluttered about inside his chest worse than a bird with a broken wing. It battered itself against his ribcage, bruising and wounding with each pump of blood that coursed through him. 

Is this what it feels like before people die? He thought as the looming figure in front of him dipped it’s head closer. 

A sharp inhale. The scent of sweat and copper.

Sora shut his eyes as cool lips pressed against the tight column of his bowed neck. A shudder wracking down his spine at how careful and genuine the kiss was. It was almost as if he wasn’t about to be devoured by a monster and instead was receiving a lover’s kiss.

His fingers dug into the fabric of a shirt, tugging closer the cold body that was hard and unyielding against him. His head lolled even more to the side, abundantly baring pliant flesh to the creature that pinned him against the rickety fridge in his apartment. He could feel the heat of the blush blazing across his skin, and when the blood bloomed underneath the tissue he could feel how Riku became more excited and pressed him harder against the front of the fridge.

If he wasn’t seeing stars before he surely was now.

Magnetic letters clattered to the floor as the appliance creaked in protest the weight of two men against it. He wondered if it might be best to move somewhere else, but before he could continue that train of thought something cold and wet dragged along the juncture where the neck meets the shoulder. 

“I promise to be as gentle as I can…” Cool breath blew over saliva slicked skin and this time his knees nearly gave out. The gentle graze of teeth followed Sora whimpered out a pathetic noise caught between a whine and a moan.

His eyes squeezed tight as he gave a sharp bob of his head once in acknowledgement, desperately trying to will his heart to pause it’s marathon long enough that he could suck in some air without his chest aching. He looked up into pupils blown wide while surrounded in a sea of blue-green. 

“I know. I trust you, Riku.” 

Hands were on his face, tilting it upwards enough that he could connect with the lips that were on his skin mere seconds ago. His racing pulse finally settled and for a moment he thought it stopped altogether as two mouths melded perfectly together.

It was heaven. 

It was torture.

Distantly he was aware of the affectionate gesture of his hip being stroked by Riku’s free hand, but he didn’t have long to ponder on the notion before the tang of copper filled his mouth.

He was bleeding and a sudden panic flared to life inside his chest. The broken bird of his heart once more clashing against the bars that were his ribs as the vampire pulled back, eyes no longer holding any trace of that lovely shade of seafoam he adored and now a deep inky black. 

“Sora--” Riku’s voice was strained, the blood on his lips honestly probably too much for him at the moment. His gaze was darting back and forth between Sora’s eyes and mouth. “Are you really sure?”

Warmth now spilled down his chin while the vampire stared at him with a starved expression.

A low rumble sounded from deep within Riku’s chest and seemed to reverberate into his own. The scrape of metal made him wince momentarily as Riku dug his nails into the seemingly fragile door of his fridge.

The vampire had his teeth bared somewhat, fangs poking out past his lips. He was hungry, and Sora knew that if he said no Riku would be okay and stop immediately. He truly did care for him and didn’t want to hurt the fragile human.

He’d never really seen Riku’s fangs before now. Sure, he caught a glimpse a few rare times, but up close they looked so much bigger. Sharper. And, oh gods, they were going to sink into his neck and the thought excited him if anything. 

What could be more intimate than sharing your life with someone you deeply cared for? 

“I told you: I trust you,” he mumbled, sounding even to himself just a tad unsure. His tongue darted out to lick up some of the blood on his mouth, suddenly self conscious of the potential rudeness of bleeding openly like that. 

He knew it was unfair to Riku to just bleed like that in front of him. But Riku had him pinned so all he had to work with was his own tongue and the back of his wrist to wipe away the last sluggish flow of crimson.

Digging up some more resolve he let it saturate his next few words. He wanted this, he really did, and he wanted Riku to know he wanted to be bitten. “What kind of a friend would I be if I didn’t help you get food? And I know you would stop before I-- well, before I would die.” 

His body once sang with tension, but now every muscle felt leaden as the adrenaline crashed and he slumped against Riku’s chest, knowing his weight meant nothing to the vampire, and allowed Riku to just hold him upright for a while. Talking about death, about dying, was terrifying, but he truly did trust Riku with his life.

“I promise to always treasure this, Sora. This gift, this moment, all if it will become a very dear memory for me,” Riku vowed as he resumed his gentle stroking of the sensitive skin right above his hip.

The urgency of the need to feed seemed to have settled down into a stable simmer once more. The rumbling in Riku’s chest no longer something loud (and scary!) but a soft rumbling that resembled a content cat’s purr. If they were on his bed Sora could fall asleep to the soothing sound.

“That’s so sappy.” Sora scoffed out a little snort as he shoved his face into Riku’s shoulder. As embarrassed as he was, he couldn’t let Riku see the silly grin that was now plastered onto his face. “You’ve been reading terrible poetry again.” 

Cool breath washed over his ear when Riku laughed, causing Sora to let out a soft hiss as gooseflesh broke out across his skin. “Wrong. Those penny dreadfuls you hate so much.”

“Ugh, those are awful. You would think after living so long you would have taste.” The words dripped sarcasm, but both men knew there was an inkling of truth within it all as well. 

“I chose you,” Riku drawled out as he nudged Sora’s face out of the crook of his neck. 

“You made one good choice and that’s it.” Sora looked up at Riku with a half lidded expression. 

Sucking in another breath to steady his nerves he pushed the jelly from his legs and managed to hold himself upright once more. His arms laced around broad shoulders and his fingers gently tugged at long strands of silver hair. “Please, eat before my heart tries to fall out of my chest again.”

Another laugh spilled from Riku.

Riku kissed him again, tongue pressing into one of the no-longer-bleeding divots in his lip and coaxing back some semblance of blood flow. The twang of metal once more splashed against his own tongue as the kiss turned into something macabre, but Sora couldn’t care as the vampire pressed hard kisses against him that ran down his jaw, his neck and a few stray ones peppered across the top of his chest.

The scrape of something solid against his jugular made him jolt momentarily before he felt fingers gently scratching his scalp in an attempt at alleviating the sudden nervousness that flooded his system. Riku could no doubt hear the sudden upkick in his heart rate and was trying to keep Sora calm in order to keep himself in check.

His own teeth dug deep into his lower lip, close to breaking skin but never quite managing to get through. He breathed in through his nose, fingers digging into the strong muscles of his friend’s back as he steadied himself.

Sora barely managed to muffle the cry that escaped him when Riku bit into him. 

One Year Earlier

He wasn’t a regular, not really, but Sora had seen his face enough to be able to pick it out in the small crowd that always seemed to appear inside the bookstore he worked at. 

[koganeirou]

me before playing blue lions: haha I’m not like ~other girls~ I don’t like Dimitri and I think he’s boring and basic.

me after playing blue lions: I will die for Dimitri.

I finally finished Azure Moon!! Can’t believe it took me 4 damn months to finish this route. Just like with Crimson Flower, I decided to do a very long write up of my thoughts of this route after letting my thoughts marinate for a bit. There will be spoilers for both Azure Moon and Crimson Flower. Also disclaimer: these are just my personal opinions.

Tldr: this route was so fucking good!!!! I jumped ship from being team Edie/BE to team Dimitri/BL faster than Sylvain jumps girlfriends because I enjoyed this route more than Crimson Flower in almost every way possible. The Blue Lions are my KIDS and I will die for each and every one of them. Blue Lions may not be my first route/house, but this is where my heart rightfully lies. 

I guess the first thing I should get out of the way are the negatives. While this isn’t really a complaint about AM specifically and more so the narrative over the entire game... the conflict between Edelgard and Dimitri seems really stupid and contrived. In other games, war happens because the villain is evil. In this game, war happens because the villain is fucking stupid. Basically, I still ain’t convinced that Edelgard’s war was ever necessary LMAO. She straight up nuked the church’s authority and relevancy out of orbit the chapter before the time skip, so she technically already accomplished her goal; why she still feels the need to go on a savage conquest alludes me. 

Speaking of nuking the church’s relevancy out of orbit, that’s exactly what happened to Rhea LOL. Despite all the church goons clamoring every .5 seconds about how they gotta save Rhea, we literally never see her again at all after the time skip, even at the end of the game. It makes no sense why Edelgard would keep Rhea imprisoned and not kill her, especially when Rhea seemingly served no greater purpose to Edelgard and became completely irrelevant in the war phase.

Edie says some mumbo jumbo of “I weighed the victims of this war against the victims of the world and I deem that there will be less victims of war” like bitch, how??? How do you tangibly quantify “victims of this world”. If she means “people who had a shitty life because of shitty society”, then those people are always going to exist because every society has its flaws. Even if you change society, you aren’t decreasing that number because you’re only solving problems by creating new ones (Edelgard’s specialty). Also the mental gymnastics you have to do to be tortured by an evil organization only to team up with said evil organization to take down another organization that, unless I missed something, isn’t even directly responsible for the death of all your siblings??? In both CF and AM, Edelgard comes off as incredibly thoughtless and illogical in her actions and I can’t help but feel that if she had been just a little bit more diplomatic, then maybe, just maybe, she could have found a better solution without starting a bloody war.

This brings me to the god forsaken chat between Edelgard and Dimitri. Dimitri demanding to know why Edelgard started the war only for her to go “it was the only way” has about the same narrative weight as “Riku why did you become one with the darkness?!” “Because I’m the worst”. Instead of bitching about whose ~ideals~ are better, how about y’all sit down and actually discuss what each person wants to accomplish and maybe figure out a way to accomplish these goals without murdering each other over it? Not that I think Edelgard would accept anything BUT murder, but jesus, this is why you don’t leave diplomatic matters to actual children.

Speaking of why you don’t leave diplomatic matters to children, god that Gronder battle. I get that it’s supposed to be an epic showdown between the three houses that mirrored the mock battle pre time skip but... the Kingdom had literally NO reason to fight the Alliance!!! The reasons they provided to justify why the Kingdom and Alliance couldn’t team up at Gronder was so fucking dumb, especially when two chapters down the line, Claude is knocking at our door begging for help. I will say tho, I never knew how much I appreciated himbo in distress Claude until now lmao.

Rodrigue's death was also really poorly done imo. As much as I liked having Dimitri’s father figure be the one to snap him out of his insanity, (I love found father/son relationships...) how on earth are you guys so fucking incompetent that you let this tiny little girl kill Rodrigue??? It doesn’t help that the exact same thing happened with Jeralt and Monica. This... just ain’t it, chief. 

I think the biggest bone I have to pick at AM specifically is... so what the fuck is the truth behind the Tragedy of Duscur LMAO??? They literally blue balled me by dropping the bomb of “Dimitri’s step mom may have conspired in it” ONLY TO NOT DO ANYTHING WITH IT. I assume that the full truth behind the Duscur tragedy will probably be revealed in VW (I hope) because it involves the slithers but it’s highkey ridiculous that the BL goons... never actually find out what really happened, and why. And I get that the story is about them moving on from their trauma and the past, but they should have at least figured out the actual truth behind it so they can get the closure they deserve???

Despite the gripes I have with some of the writing, unless VW or SS is mind blowingly amazing, this route will easily stand as the best route for me, because.... it is kind of is mind blowingly amazing. I wholeheartedly love character driven stories, and this route absolutely delivers in that respect-- the character writing is amazing and is essentially the heart of this story. To think Dimitri and the Blue Lions were the lord/house I was least interested in at first. Even after hearing people talk about what the BL goons and Dimitri’s character arc was roughly about, I was still blown away by just how damn fucking good it was, and this route exceeded my expectations in every way possible. 

When playing CF, I struggled to connect with a lot of the beagles; I didn’t have that problem at all with the BL goons and the route does a phenomenal job at making me actually give a shit about these characters and their problems. Childhood friend squad (+Marianne and Ashe) are easily my favourite characters in this game by a landslide, and the dynamic between not only the childhood friend squad, but all the BL goons, was just so, so amazing. Watching these characters that are seemingly joined by a single tragedy, rise above all their suffering as they grow, heal, and overcome hardship together is just so... MY KIDS... MY HEART..... I really got the sense of not only their shared pain, but also shared intimacy, care, and friendship. Their support conversations with each other had everything; from goofy and fun, to soothing and nurturing, to painful and harrowing. 

The connections that the BL goons have to the pre time skip missions gave part 1 story so much more meaning, and it only gets better after the time skip. I really appreciate that the BL bean boys actually feel relevant to the main story, and that their input and opinions actually mattered. The cast’s struggle to come to a consensus on the best course of action during the war phase made them feel like actual people with opinions, unlike in CF, where everyone was just a mindless passenger to Edie’s not so merry joyride. This also made Dimitri’s arc way more impactful because the narrative actually holds him accountable for the consequences that his behavior/poor decisions had on others. What I also really liked about the war phase is that you could just feel how war torn the kingdom was and how much everything went to shit after the time skip. I felt really strongly to the characters’ sense of hopelessness at fighting a losing battle as they struggled to keep their home land in tact while everything just kept spiraling out of control and deteriorating further. 

So to see the BL goon beans slowly, one battle at a time, turn the tide of the war and push back against the corner they were backed in, was SO fulfilling and rewarding. The battle of Fhirdiad is probably my favourite battle in the entire game because it felt like all the suffering and toiling that the BL goons went through was finally worth it, and just watching the kingdom slowly heal after being liberated was just such a good feeling. This kind of payoff is something I think CF sorely lacked, since tbh, I struggled to celebrate Edie’s victories with her. Though I do appreciate how Edie’s a much more threatening antagonistic force than either Dimitri or Rhea were in CF too bad Edelgard’s boss battle was pathetically easy and Dimitri shredded through her armor like swiss cheese... at least Rhea put up a slightly challenging fight.

I could gush about the characters all day, but Dimitri? He makes this game, 100%. This truly felt like his story and he was the star of this route. On a superficial level, I’m a basic bitch as well as a slut for angsty boys who have trouble talking about their trauma because I want them to rail me. I fucking loved his feral personality it was just so fun to watch and interact with LMAO 10/10 would let him use me until the flesh falls from my bones. His dialogue in this state is just so demeaning, belittling and raw that it somehow comes a full circle and becomes charming I promise I’m not a sick masochist.

I’m also a degenerate and dimileth is my otp. The way the relationship between Dimitri and Byleth develops over the game truly felt like a bond forged over time. The way Dimitri admits that he couldn’t trust Byleth at first because he was put off by the way they could “kill without batting an eye”, to being so elated when he sees them smile for the first time that he’s completely mesmerized when they starts expressing emotion... oof, talk about otp material. I think what really sold me is the way he’s their anchor after Jeralt’s death; their emotional support both in a traditional sense, but also in a darker sense when he declares he will kill anyone so they desire it because their enemies are his enemies. Character A declaring they’d die for character B? Soft shit. Character A declaring they’d kill for character B? A+ romance right there, boys. 

On a non superficial level, Dimitri’s character arc of his fall from grace and subsequent redemption was absolutely phenomenal. Just seeing how far he sinks, how far he goes, only to see how far he climbs his way back up after hitting rock bottom, was such a roller coaster and I loved every minute of it. I also probably like revenge stories more than I care to admit. Dimitri has everything; blood lust, cruelty, obsession, but also empathy and compassion so extreme that it’s his very own innate kindness that drives him into insanity, which is what makes him such a compelling character in my eyes. The extremity of his psychosis was absolutely heart breaking, but despite everything, him making the conscious decision to change for the better and rise up to fulfill his role as king was just astounding to watch. 

I will say though... maybe I have a screwed up moral compass but tbh Dimitri brutally killing imperial soldires didn’t really upset me because... this is war??? That he didn’t even start?? Everyone is killing everyone??? Even if he never went feral, he’d still be killing because his bloody kingdom is being invaded?????? But I digress.

While I think just how damn avoidable everything was kind of detracts from the tragedy of his relationship with Edelgard, I still really loved how steadfast and unconditional his love for her was (after he stops going feral), and you can tell just how much she meant to him every time he spoke of her. I also love how the dagger kind of becomes a symbolic motif throughout the story, and Edie throwing the dagger at him in the final cutscene as a sign of her wholehearted rejection of him was just fucking depressing, but also very fitting of her character. 

I adore the whole overarching narrative and themes surrounding grief and death, befitting of a war game. How, as tempting as it is to constantly keep the memory of the dead alive, there comes a point where you have to move on and not let your life be ruled by those no longer around. The way that the characters react to the death of loved ones and grieve so differently was a huge highlight of the BL squad’s characterizations, which just makes them feel more alive and human. Honestly, no words can really describe just how incredible of an experience Azure Moon was.

Anyway my order from favourite to least favourite BL goon bean boys are: Dimitri > Ashe >/= Sylvain >/= Felix > Ingrid > Mercedes > Annette > Dedue. (I love Ashe/Sylvain/Felix almost equally LOL)

tldr my experience with Azure Moon:

tfw my second best girl is childhood friends with all the best boys in the entIRE GAME and she settles for a guy with a dead wife, daughter, and most likely triple her age :|.

I’ll be finally playing Golden Deer next, which I’m gonna do on NG+ Maddening so.... hope that goes well!!

[nadziejastar]

I really, genuinely don’t understand why people think Isa, and only Isa, is irredeemable? All textual evidence points to Isa having been a vulnerable teenager brainwashed by an older person in a position of power over him, exactly like Terra and Riku.

This is a really good post. I totally agree, I miss pre-KH3 Saix/Isa, too. His character was handled so much more respectfully. I think the lack of sympathy for Isa was a major reason why Nomura decided to pretty much write him off in KH3, which is such a waste. I think it was fairly obvious that Isa was supposed to be possessed and not really a bad guy. Anyone can see that after BBS he was going to be redeemed in the end. TBH, I think the reason why so many people in this fandom had no sympathy for him and demonized him was because he got in the way of their preferred ship/trio. 

Saix was a child when he was kidnapped by the Organization. He and Axel clearly did not want to be there; they’d been planning how to get free for ten years, under pain of death if they were discovered. They were being held captive. Xemnas literally mutilated him so that he could never get away even if he ran (Recusant, btw, is a word that means ‘a person who refuses to submit to a higher authority’).

Yep. Saix was a prisoner of the organization. There was never anything suggesting he was there of his own free will. He was mutilated so they could keep track of where he was at all times. The organization has certain rules. You cannot leave on your own. By changing this about his backstory, you ruin his whole character.

Everything Saix and Axel planned against the Apprentices was completely justified. Except for Ienzo, all of the adults were complicit in holding them captive, even if they didn’t actively abuse either of them personally. Xaldin even advocates killing children who don’t want to be there; he was the one who said they should kill Xion for being a traitor (Saix was the one who defended her).

Yeah, I always thought so, too. Axel seemed to have a very good reason to kill the apprentices. By changing his backstory, they make him look like Rambo for no reason. It does Axel a disservice. And yes, Xaldin is horrible. He faced NO consequences for anything he did. It’s strange how Isa had to atone but not Dilan.

Saix did no worse than Riku did, but it took him years of brainwashing to get that way, where it only took Riku a few weeks. Riku turned on Sora and tried to kill him for completely petty reasons, whereas Saix only turned on Axel when it was a case of killing Axel or being killed himself, a position Axel had knowingly put him in.

Yeah, I always thought KH1 Riku was pretty bad. I liked him, but his reasons for turning evil in the first game were extremely petty and hard to sympathize with. I was hoping BBSV2 would retcon things and “fix” him somewhat.

Terra was also brainwashed and manipulated by Xehanort, but nobody is calling for Terra’s head. He’s been enslaved by Xehanort for ten years, but no one holds him responsible for the things Xemnas did, which were far worse than anything Saix has ever done.

Completely agree. Terra doesn’t have to atone for what Xemnas did. So why should Isa have to atone for what Saix did when Saix was also a Nort?

Saix never lies to the player about his goals. In fact, Saix never directly lies, period. His objections to Axel’s behavior are all ‘Your friendship is an illusion’ and ‘your feelings are a lie.’ Saix has a stated objection to self-deception as a moral rule. His last words are begging for his heart back. This is not a man bullshitting about genuinely feeling empty and incomplete.

Saix was always a sad character. Literally the only the only two organization members that Sora felt sad for in KH2 were Axel and Saix. Both of them were the ones that were longing for hearts the most. Even in Days, you could tell that Roxas felt pity for Saix too when he got on his knees and was begging for his heart.

There is literally no way Saix knew about the Nort thing. Xigbar taunts Saix to his face in the Days extra cutscene about the heart thing and Saix fails to understand what he means. Saix is also being deliberately kept in the dark about Xion’s actual development for the same reason. He had no way of knowing he was running his head into a snare and did not choose to be a Nort.

Absolutely! That was one of the most interesting things about Saix. Saix was NOT like Xigbar. He did NOT voluntarily become a Nort. Days built up a mystery about him. And then they just completely threw it away!

His treatment of Xion was reprehensible, but he had at the time no way of knowing she was a real person. This obviously doesn’t justify his behavior but it explains it. He believed her to be literally a machine and treated her as though she were just a clever facsimile that didn’t work right. The fact that he defended her from Xaldin (by saying she was just malfunctioning and had no free will so therefore couldn’t be punished as a traitor) proves he didn’t think she had feelings.  

Yeah, I think when Saix defended Xion when Xaldin called her a deserter was interesting. I don’t think he cared about Xion being eliminated. But she wasn’t a “deserter”. She was just a “broken” machine. Leaving is against the rules. And so is losing control. Broken things are more likely to go berserk and lose control. Hmmmm.

Kingdom Hearts is a Disney game about the redemptive power of friendship and healthy support networks. Saix’s main reason for falling to Xehanort was the belief he had to do everything himself, and his rejection of friendship as a force that could help him. Riku and Terra did the same thing. Riku was redeemed because Sora forgave him. Terra will certainly be redeemed by Aqua. There is no textual reason why Isa should not follow this pattern.

Exactly! I love Riku and Terra, but I think Isa was even more innocent than either of them. He was a victim of mind control! I don’t even think he needed Lea to forgive him. He just needed to be revived by him.

[rex101111]

She Deserves The Stars

Re:mind…well, reminded me why Sokai was such an obsession for me back in high school so naturally I had to buckle down and write a 10k+ fic about them being cute and loving each other because what else does Nomura expect me to do with myself now until he finally nuts up and releases a Kairi-centric game?

Rating: T

Enjoy!

Riku was good at focusing on little details. How sand would gather around the edge of a wave once it crested over a beach, how a leaf rocks from side to side as it floats down to the ground, small things, insignificant things. He’s gotten good at noticing those things and honing his focus on them so he could avoid thinking of things that he did not want on his mind.

When he was younger it was to divert his head from petty, cruel thoughts about his two best friends. Focus on the sand to avoid thinking about how Kairi keeps stealing looks at Sora behind his back, keep your eyes on the leaf to not think too hard about how soft Sora’s voice gets when the subject of Kairi comes up.

Focus on the water, the raft, the far away freedom, the adventure, focus on that and not on how two people you’ve known for over a decade were leaving you behind.

(A voice from the back of his head stabs him with these thoughts, you were such a shit remember? Such an awful friend, and he takes a breath. Sometimes the voice is nasally, young and arrogant and so sure of his destiny, and sometimes the voice is deeper than a fall in a canyon, full of silk smooth venom and sharp like a dagger, but he’s gotten used to remaindering himself that the voice is always wrong, so he brushes it off easily enough.)

As he grew older it was a matter of survival, the rustle of the air as holes of pure nothing tore open and things made of twisted cloth-flesh and empty souls were about to pour out, the electricity and dull fire licking his skin whenever creatures of dark and hate were nearby. Things that passed by in a second, things that kept him alive if he noticed them.

It made him good at reading people once things simmered down. The twitch near the corner of Terra’s lip when Riku was being difficult, Aqua’s left eyebrow raising half an inch to prepare for a lecture, Ven’s eyes darting back and forth when you caught out a bluff, Roxas mouth thinning when you hit a sore spot, Xion’s shoulder’s bunching up if she feels threatened, Lea’s fists clenching when he’s pissed.

Kairi’s nose flaring when she’s frustrated, biting her lip to hold back tears, how empty and tired her eyes were becoming every day Sora remained out of her reach.

He used it to be a better friend, when everyone needed him to be more than any other time in his life, he even thinks he managed it fairly alright. Kairi barely gave him the time of day as things dragged on, but he could hardly blame her for that, with how she was wearing herself thin searching for Sora, for their friend.

The one she loved.

If he was younger, spiteful and jealous and so afraid of being alone, that last thought would have been a knife in the back, but seeing Kairi so determined, so driven, so on fire to look for Sora after everything he’s done, for everyone, for them, for her, it was hard not to admire her now that he’s more secure with his place in their lives and with more years on his shoulders.

And best of all, it paid off.

He didn’t even want to begin to think of all the loops and nonsense he and Kairi (plus their friends from Radiant Garden, and the three Masters, and the king, and Roxas and his gang, and who knows how many more) had to jump through to finally find Sora, but they did. He was beaten within an inch of his life, bruised and bleeding from a few worrying places, but he was alive, against all odds and spitting in the face of whatever laws of nature and destiny were dead set on keeping them all apart, he was alive.

And the look on his face when he caught sight of them, caught sight of Kairi, was absolutely worth every second of searching it took to find him. Riku barely had enough time to cast Curaja to heal their wounds before he and Kairi basically attached themselves to each other to hug and sob and be glad to be together again.

They even pulled him into the hug, and Riku was never more glad to get snot and dirt on his jacket. Soon though, as if all the time searching and fighting and hoping caught up to them all at once, Kairi and Sora fell sound asleep, arms still wrapped around each other and Riku.

Prying himself, however reluctantly, from the hug, Riku was left with the question of how to get these two on the Gummi ship and on the way back to Destiny Islands, back home. Thankfully, Aqua, Terra and Ven were close by when things began to wind down, and were able to help him pick the two up and carry them to the ship.

Still hugging even, after all they went through they seemed determined to never be apart again, even while dead to the world and snoring and drooling on each other. It was cute, in a weird and gross sort of way, but he sure as hell wasn’t going to be the one to pry them off each other, and the other three weren’t too keen on the idea either.

So, they laughed, shared a hug, gave their best wishes and congratulations, and left through their portal, and now Riku was left alone on the Gummi with his two sleeping, hugging friends.

And he was making use of his long developed skill for careful inspection to take notice of every little noise the ship made, the groan of metal and grinding of gears, the flowing of fuel through pipes, anything to keep his eyes open and his arms steady, lest he fall asleep and the three heroes that saved the world a good half dozen times will die as a result of crashing into a huge hunk of rock floating in space.

Because he too, like Kairi and Sora, was practically dead on his feet after the trial that was today, but he was left to be the responsible one and get them all back in one piece.

“As per usual, I might add.” He muttered with faux outrage, “I swear, I always have to be the one to actually get stuff done, don’t I?” He shook his head with a scoff, “this is just like the time we were building that damned raft, remember that?”

He turned his head back to look at his friends with a tired smile, Sora having moved his arms to envelop Kairi completely, as if protecting her from a wind that would blow her away, and their princess burying her head in Sora’s chest, as if to anchor him where he was and keep him there with her.

Otherwise, they snored and ignored his question, typical.

“Exactly!” He shouted, to no reaction from the snoozing pair, “I was running around carrying logs and ropes from all over the island, while you two were sleeping the day away on the beach!” He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and shook his head again, paying attention to the give of the leather on the wheel as he steered the ship, “Sora might have been the lazy bum, but Kairi, you always used the excuse to look for him to not have to work and make wayfinders, and that left me to find the two of you only to see you goofing off near the water.”

He left it at that for a moment, pistons whooshing in the air and his friends mumbling softly in their sleep. Sora taking a deep breath through his nose buried in Kairi’s hair, Kairi grabbing Sora’s jacket in a tightening fist.

“…we never did finish it, right?” He let the question hang in the air for a while as he searched his memory of that one sunlit afternoon that took so long to end, that one storm that changed everything, “well, I mean, we did, but we never really got the chance to take it out to sea.” He chuckled at his past self, naïve and sure with his so called plan to seek destiny and a different sky, “not that we would have gotten anywhere, three dumb kids on a rickety raft in the middle of the ocean, wouldn’t that have been a stupid end to our story…”

He was quiet again, listening to the sound of his friends breathing, in and out, in and out, two hearts, two souls, two people he could never imagine being without. It is the most wonderful sound he’s heard in years, and he strains to commit every tiny detail of it to memory.

“We should build it again.” He intones resolutely, eyes dead ahead and watching for their goal, “we should take a day to build it, and actually get it on the water.” He starts smiling without even noticing, his heart growing warm in his chest, “not even out to the ocean, I’d like to think the three of us aren’t that stupid, just, spend an afternoon floating near the beach, just close enough to swim back if we need to.”

He looked at the stars outside the ship, saw them slowly drifting close before floating away, didn’t he dream of this? This freedom? To be this far away from a home that gave him nothing but sand and sea water? Look at him now, wanting nothing but to get back there, to the palm trees and glowing sun.

He hums deep in his throats for a moment, “I think we’ve all earned a day or two of being lazy bums.”

“Try a week.”

Riku’s smile widened for a moment before he tempered it into a cool smirk, “or maybe a month, considering how you two conked out so quick back there.” He looked back with that same smirk to see Sora sleepily blinking at him, only just barely awake and hanging on the edge of falling right back to snoring on Kairi without a care, “how long have you been up?”

“Around the time you started talking about the raft, and how I wasn’t any help.” He used the one hand not wrapped around Kairi to point accusingly at Riku, “which is a big fat lie, don’t you remember me bringing in all the food?”

“Oh yeah, all the food, an egg, two coconuts, three mushrooms, and three tiny fish, a very sustainable supply, Sora.”

“And water!” Sora added cheekily, grinning widely no matter how tired he was, “don’t forget the water!”

“I wouldn’t dare! A whole bottle of water!” Riku stifled a yawn along with a smile, looking back over the map as he adjusted his course slightly, “Kairi practically had to twist your arm to get you to pull your weight and get all of that.”

A moment of quiet before Sora chuckles warmly, “nah, all she really had to do was ask me.”

Riku let out an undignified sound between his lips holding back a laugh, “man, you are so whipped.”

After making a few outraged noises, Sora fired back, “excuse you, I prefer in love.”

The air stills between them, Riku looks back at Sora with a kind smirk, seeing his friend’s face softly glow red.

“Love…” Sora repeated, slowly, as if testing how the word traveled along his tongue, “love…wow…just saying that, don’t think I’ll ever get used to that…” Sora looked down at Kairi, smiling stretching his face as he buried his nose in her hair again, “love…yeah, I’m in love with her, isn’t that crazy, Riku?”

(Why did you think you ever had a chance? Both voices, young and dark, say at once, and he’s so far past over that whole jealousy business that the ease and annoyance in which he pushes that thought out of his head is almost laughable. Because I was young, stupid, and afraid of being alone, now shut it.)

“Not crazy at all, in fact it’s about time you got it through your thick hair and skull,” He looked back at his glaring friend with a grin, “also, same thing as being whipped, buddy.”

“Hey!”

Kairi made a soft sound in her sleep, digging her head deeper into her embrace of Sora, shutting both boys up before they woke her. Sora breathed out a sigh before wrapping his other hand around her, speaking to Riku while his eyes stayed on her sleeping form, “I don’t think I had a chance to thank all of you guys for bringing me back,” he turned to Riku, eyes wet and smile quiet, “so, really, thank you Riku.”

Riku was silent for a long moment, face hardening before he gestured sharply with his chin to their sleeping friend, “she’s the one you should be thanking, Sora, she’s the only person who refused to give up looking for you, no matter what.”

Sora blinked at Riku, taken aback by his sudden sharp tone, “I-I know that-”

“Yeah but you don’t get it.” Riku stalled the ship so it wouldn’t move and turned to Sora, eyes stone like and voice tight, “Kairi damn near killed herself looking for you, on more than one occasion and in a variety of ways, no matter how many times people told her to slow down, no matter how much I told her to take a break before she cracked under the pressure.” He shook his head with a frustrated breath, memories of those stressful months weighing on his mind, “you have no idea what she had to push through to get you back Sora, no fucking idea.”

Sora stared wide eyed at his friend, at a complete lose at what to say to all that, the only thing he could think to do was simply hold on to Kairi tighter as Riku took another breath and rubbed his face.

“No.” Riku shook his head and rubbed the bridge of his nose, taking a few calming gulps of air, “no, that was…that came out angrier than I wanted it to be.” He let out another breath between his teeth, “I’m not…I’m not telling you all of this to guilt trip you Sora, I…I just want you to understand exactly how lucky we all ended up being today.”

Riku’s eyes flit over the many wounds and bandages covering his friends’ bodies, and feeling the faint thumping of his own injuries, that even after a dose of healing magic from both himself and Aqua he knew would leave scars. He pushes the sight of Sora bleeding from the side of his stomach out of his head, he needs to focus.

“Seriously Sora, today was, bar none, the closest call the three of us of had at losing our lives.” An incredulous laugh leaps out of him unbidden, voice a bit hysterical as he went on, as if the danger of the situation has only hit him fully now that he has a chance to look over his shoulder and actually see it, “and considering the shit we went through? That is saying something, don’t you think?” He pinches his left thumb and index finger together and then just barely pulls them apart to make a space between, “this close, that was our margin of error, that was how close I was to losing my two best friends in the whole world, Sora. That was how close Kairi was to failing after everything we all went through.”

Sora started looking at Kairi mid-way through Riku’s plea, the affection in his eyes mixing with something else, something like pride and determination, that look he had when he was prepared to move the stars for the people he loved.

What would he move for Kairi? Riku supposed that wasn’t a question worth asking, considering he already had the answer.

“But she won.” Riku continued, voice growing steady and certain, “she made it Sora, after all of that she made it, we made it, and that means she’s earned something from you.”

“Anything.” Sora said, voice rock solid and eyes unclouded, “I’ll give her anything she needs, everything, what do I need to give her?”

“No Sora, not give.” He leaned back on the wheel, crossing his arms and smiling at his friend, “something you need to tell her.”

Sora looked between the girl in his arms and his smiling friend, once more at a loss, “what’s there left to say?”

“How you feel, Sora.” Riku stated plainly, “exactly how you feel, exactly what you see in her, exactly what you want to do with her, exactly how you love her.” His smile grows warm when comprehension glows in Sora’s eyes, “tell her everything in your heart, even if she already knows what’s there from the time she was there, even if you think it’s stupid, out loud, in the open, between the two of you, leave nothing to guesswork or implication.”

Sora was holding Kairi against his chest, the girl snuggling into his warmth in her sleep but still refusing to wake.

“After everything she did for you, she’s earned that, all of it. And you need to tell her,” Riku looked aside at a window, watching stardust blow by and the universe turn around them, “…because who knows if this was the last time we get so lucky.”  

Riku left it at that, letting the implication sink in on its own, turning back to the wheel to start them back on their route, the heavy quiet of his two friends and the noises of the ship his only accompaniment.

“…I called her my guiding light.” He heard Sora whisper, just barely, growing weaker, “…my light in the darkness.”

Riku blinked, the line of his mouth unsure whether to sink or rise, before another laugh jumped from his lungs and it was all he could do to keep the ship steady, “Sora, of all the things I’ve heard you say, that has to be the cheesiest.” He turned his head to look behind him, voice raising in pitch in a parody of Sora’s, “and that includes your famous my friends are my-”

He stopped, seeing Sora once more joining Kairi in dream land, whatever strength he had used to listen to Riku gone like it was never there. Riku would crack up if he didn’t want them both to keep resting.

“…power.” He shakes his head, looking at the map to see how close they were to home, smiling when he saw they weren’t too far. “You two rest,” he mutters as he leans a bit forward on the accelerator, just enough not to rock the ship, “we’re nearly there…we’re back guys, we actually made it.”

Another soft voice from behind him, different from before, tired to the bone but full of joy, “we're…home.”

He waited for more, but a soft sound of shuffling clothes was all he heard from her, so he let the tears of relief drop down his face, “yeah…we’re home.”

-_-_-_-

Kairi was always a heavy sleeper. Maybe it was just how she was built, or perhaps it was a consequence of dropping between worlds and getting her heart stolen when she was young, but waking her was, reportedly, a very difficult task if Lea and Riku and her grandmother were to be believed.

That changed after the year long search into her heart for Sora, in which she spent that whole time sleeping and went away with barely any clue at all to where he might be. After that she barely allowed herself rest, and any sleep she managed was a wired one, where she was set to spring up at the lightest noise or touch in case she needed to summon her weapon and fight.

Sleeping meant dreams, dreams of a sword through her back, dreams of being weak, dreams of her arm being bent behind her until she heard the bones snap. Dreams of him, right within her reach but always too far away, which were the worst of them all. She loathed sleep, loathed the idea she wasted so much time when she could have been out there looking but instead was useless while her friends risked their lives to make up for her weakness.

Sleep was a waste of time, if she had time to lay down on a pillow and be selfish she had time to get on her feet and put the work in to atone for her failings.

And yet, now, it was as if all the sleep that was drained from her in that year of searching came back at once, and all she wanted to do was cling as long and as hard as she could manage to this slumber, this rest sweeter and warmer than she’s felt in ages.

Kairi was surrounded by warmth, her head resting on a pillow, her body covered by a blanket, and she refused to be woken. Her mind was still reeling from something she was sure was a dream; Sora, after all that time searching and struggling, in her arms, alive and here, a part of her was afraid of opening her eyes, afraid this was just another illusion brought about by her desperate mind.

So long as she was pressed up to this warmth, so long as she was hearing the steady thump thump thump of a heart she knew better than her own, so long as her eyes were closed and she saw nothing she knew for certain it was real. At least in the moment, as she rested, Sora was with her again.

Opening her eyes would mean risking the chance she failed, again, that she was still no closer to finding him again, that he was once more torn out of her reach, her heart would clatter to pieces in her chest if that were true, she could only take so much.

So, she clung to sleep as long as she could manage, holding onto it in a death grip, even as she heard Sora and Riku’s voices float around her, even as she felt Sora’s arms wrap tightly around her, even as she felt him put a feather-light kiss to the top of her head.

It was such a wonderful dream, waking would make it a nightmare.

She wouldn’t survive that, she was home, she was finally home.

She wants to rest, please just let her rest.

“Kairi! Kairi wake up!”

Her eyes flew open and she bolted straight up, recognizing the panic in Riku��s voice as well as being shaken by the shoulder. She saw him in front of her, or at least a blurry mess of colors she thought was Riku, and it took a moment for her to realize her eyes were full of tears.

“R-Riku?” She mumbled rubbing her eyes and blinking rapidly, her mind more sluggish than she was used to when waking, “what-what happened?”

Riku, now perfectly visible that her tears were out of the way, sighed, “you were mumbling and crying in your sleep, you scared me for a second there.”

Kairi blinked, “…sleep?” She muttered quietly, a bitter chuckle leaving her as the implications crawled up on her, making her feel cold from every direction, “right…sleep. I was…” She rubs her face with a frustrated breath, scowling, “…I was just…asleep.”

Of course she was, of course it was nothing more than a stupid wish, a ridiculous dream, why would it be anything else, of course.

Another day another failure, no one but herself to blame for hopes raising too high.

Of fucking course.

Riku grew worried, his hands raised towards her uncertainly, “Kairi? You okay there?”

She wonders when he’ll grow sick of her, get tired of her scowling and glaring at him every time he shows her concern, wonders when he’ll just get a clue and give up on her, leave her to this impossible mission that will probably kill her before she drags him down with her.

She won’t stop, even if it costs her everything she won’t stop until she finds him, that was the simple truth of it, if it cost her Riku than she’ll live with it if she needs to. If he’d just hurry up and give on her it might be better, but if Riku lost his heart over her (like they were all twelve all over again and nothing changed) after all the growing up he’s done she’ll never forgive herself.

He reaches out again, concern still clear on his face as he attempts to put a palm on her shoulder, “Kairi?”

“It’s fine.” She dismissed him with a snap, sharper than he deserves but she’ll curse herself for it later, rubbing a spot at the back of her head, “I’m fine Riku it was just…just a dream.” She sighed harshly and pushed against the warmth of her pillow and the bed she laid on, one hand holding her up, “don’t worry about me just give me a-”

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

Kairi is frozen, every bone in her body locks in place, her heart seizes in her chest and she waits, waits for that steady rhythm under her palm, to make sure she wasn’t going crazy after all this time, after all that searching.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

Tears start flowing down her cheeks as she slowly turns to her left, to see what she’s laying her hand on. She’s met with the lazy bum who stole her heart, her hero and her friend. She sees Sora, soundly snoozing under her palm like nothing in the world was amiss.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

Her face lights up with an impossibly wide grin, her whole body bursting in flame to burn away the ice that froze her not a moment before, all while tears continue to flow down her cheeks as she sees Sora breath in and out in peaceful sleep.

“Kairi?” She turned to Riku, his face torn between a relieved smirk and a worried fret, his eyes jumping from spot to spot on her body, not quite sure where to stop, “are you…Kairi what’s wro-”

“This is real.”

Riku blinked, “what?”

“This.” She emphasized by bunching up the fabric of Sora’s shirt in her hand, her eyes never leaving Riku as she smiled and cried, “this is real, all of it, right?” A desperate edge sharpened the end of her question, a bit of panic floating in the air, her grin unstable at the corners, “he, Sora, he’s really here right? We did it, right?” She took her second hand and grabbed Riku’s shoulder, her fingers shaking, “this isn’t a dream? I’m not seeing things, right Riku? Is he back? Right?”

He grasps her by the shoulders, steadies her by with a solid stare and a steely grip, and when the panic drains out of her, he smiles, “we did it Kairi, this isn’t a dream.” He leans his forehead on hers and her tears nearly double, “we did it.”

She crumples into him after a few disbelieving spurts of laughter, hiccupping as she buried herself into the crook of his neck and used one arm to hug him fiercely, the other still bunching up the fabric of Sora’s shirt nearest to that precious heartbeat.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

A soft groaning rose beneath her palm, and she leaned away from Riku to see Sora slowly rousing from his slumber, mumbling incoherently as he sat up, “Mmn…wha…?” He blinked the sleep out of his eyes as he managed to sit up straight, smiling slowly as he took in the image of his two best friends in front of him, “hey guys, did I sleep long?”

Kairi’s grin nearly split her face, the arm she had wrapped around Riku and joining its twin near Sora’s heart, “no more than usual, lazy bum.”

Sora matched her grin inch for inch, all his teeth on display as he wrapped one hand over the two she placed on his chest, eyes soft as he took her in, “man, been a while since I heard that…one…” He trailed off as he finally noticed her tears, Kairi could only imagine how blotchy her cheeks were, the red rimming her eyes, but all she could see was the love and concern filling his face and weighing down his voice as he brought his other hand to brush a few stray drops from her left cheek, “Kai…don’t tell me I did this…”

He did, he is the reason she was crying so openly right now. He wormed his way into her heart years ago and refused to leave, even when he left her memories her heart remembered him. Yet he seemed chronically out of her reach, every time it seemed they would have a moment together it was snatched away by shadows and men who cared only for their curiosity and not for anyone they might hurt in searching to satiate it.

He protected her time and time and time again, putting his body and his soul on the line to keep her safe even as the sight of it robbed her of sleep. And when the time came to repay him his bravery, she failed, and her failure costed her more than she was ever willing to pay.

She got to stand by his side, lending her strength to him like she wished to do so since they were both children, lost in a war they had no business in waging. She held him in her arms and walked with him through so many worlds and saw so many things…and then he was gone again.

Yes, he did this, he was the reason tears were staining her face and her body ached with bruises and sores from yet more fights and yet more war that she waged herself to find him. He was also the reason she was able to push through all of that, the reason she was able to wake day after day with the hope that she would find him again, that they would have time again.

She loves him, and he’s made her cry for all sort of reasons over the years, so he shouldn’t be so surprised that she’s crying now.

Instead of giving him that answer, instead of telling him all of that, all that mess of emotion and muddled thoughts that have crept into her mind after the long search for him, she settled for leaning her head forward, closing her eyes, and capturing his lips with hers.

A shock went through him for a quick second, Kairi having felt him jump as her lips landed on his, but soon his arms crushed her in a hug as he returned the pressure and they were lost in each other, the whole universe falling away as they simply existed in the moment, together at last.

…at least until Riku very loudly cleared his throat to remind them that he was still in the room.

“You guys good?”

They reluctantly separated, suddenly sheepish now that they remembered that reality wasn’t limited to themselves, faces glowing red as they looked at each other uncertainly for a moment before big, goofy grins stretched their faces again. They laughed loudly, some combination of elation and relief, smiling at Riku who returned his own understated smirk.

“I’ll take that as a yes…and as my cue to leave.” He turned towards the door with a light and easy step, waving over his shoulder, “I’ll see you two in the-”

He’s stopped when both Kairi and Sora grab one of his hands, their faces worried at his sudden departure, “Riku,” Kairi started, guilt at how she treated him when she woke up gnawing up her stomach, “you don’t-you don’t have to leave, you know were not pushing you away right?”

Riku blinks at her, as if the thought never even crossed his mind, “yeah!” Sora added, sharing a quick look with Kairi as he squeezed Riku’s with one of his own while the other was still holding one of Kairi’s, “we’re just-”

“Guys relax.” Riku stressed, pulling his hand out of their grip and smiling easily at them, “It’s not like when we were kids, I know you aren’t doing that, it’s fine.” He crossed his arms and looked down at them with a raised eyebrow, “it’s just I know that you two, specifically you two, have a few things you need to work out,” a too smart grin lit his face, “privately.”

Kairi could feel her face catch fire from the implication, “Riku.”

The grin didn’t budge, “am I wrong?” He looked more directly at Sora, “well?”

She turned to look at Sora, face just as red as hers was, when she saw a determined gleam take shape in his eyes, “…yeah, you’re right, we do have some things to talk over.” Sora met her gaze and she could feel her heart beat a bit faster as he smiled at her, “just the two of us.”

Kairi was stuck between being utterly elated at Sora’s affection, mortified at Riku’s good natured laughter, and confused at what those two boys might have communicated with that brief look.

As she was deciding which direction she wanted to lean towards, she noticed for the first time that she didn’t recognize the room Riku brought them two; bare bones with only a bed, a desk, and a window to give it any features beyond the inside of a pale white box.

“Riku, what is this place?” Kairi looked around a bit more, confused, “this isn't…my room, or-or Sora’s,” she ignored the snigger he sent her way, “where is this?”

Sora nodded, “yeah, I don’t think I remember any place like this back home…”

“You wouldn’t.” Riku said plainly, “this is just a small place the Radiant Garden Committee bought when they were looking for clues to find Sora around here.” He shrugged, “when they didn’t find anything they gave me the keys to keep safe since my house is the closest to here,” He looked at Kairi, “and since your room hasn’t been touched or cleaned since Sora disappeared and his room is just a total mess in general, I figured this is the best place to bring you two so you could…” His grin came back, cheeky to the extreme, “catch up, privately.”  

It was Sora’s turn to glare red-faced at their mutual friend, eyes wide and darting between him and Kairi, “Riku seriously you-” He stopped of a sudden, taking another wide look at the room, some realization causing his red face to pale a bit, “Riku…Riku there’s-” He gulped in the middle of his halting speech, voice creaking, “there’s only one bed.”

Kairi blinked, her brain trying to catch up to what Sora sounded so stressed about, and when it did she could practically hear the kettle screech as the inside of her head boiled and she snapped a glare in Riku’s direction, his face the picture of perfect innocence.

He didn’t.

“Really?” He asked, voice surprised and taken aback, as if he didn’t know this room for the longest time out of the three of them, looking around the space as if he was just taking it in for the first time, “well what do you know, there is only one bed!”

That bastard he did.

“Huh, what are the chances?” He started walking towards the door, utterly nonchalant as he pushed on the handle to open it, “honestly, how weird is it that the one place I could think to bring you two that has any privacy would only have one bed, crazy!”

She was going to kill him. She’s going to wait until he’s sleeping, thank him for all the help he’s given her and being a better wingman than she honestly deserved, and then she was going to kill him.

“I suppose you’ll simply have to make do with just one bed, guys.” The bastard they called a best friend smiled pleasantly as he stepped under the threshold, ignoring Sora’s steaming face and Kairi’s murderous glare, “honestly this place is really private, so you guys can take as long as you need to talk things out, okay?” His smile turned endlessly smug, “try not to have too much fun!”

They both opened their mouths to shout his head off, but he slammed the door in their faces with an evil cackle more fitting for an Organization member than a guardian of light, leaving them in the room.

Alone.

Together.

With only one bed.

Kairi was going to kill him.

Her plans to horribly murder Riku were derailed when she heard a soft chuckle from behind her, looking over her shoulder to see Sora laughing a bit awkwardly, as soon as he saw her staring at him he sent a heart melting smile her way as his face continued to glow red, “good to see Riku’s sense of humor stayed the same.”

Kairi smiled back, her chest aching with how much she missed hearing him laugh, seeing him smile, as if to make sure she was aware that this wasn’t a dream. “One of the few things that didn’t change.” She didn’t mean it in a bad way, or a good way, simply acknowledging how much shifted since the time Sora vanished, not really caring for any of that currently anyway, far more occupied with the person on the bed with her, twining her fingers with his and leaning her forehead against his shoulder, “like you, you haven’t changed much either, Sora.”

He’s quiet for a minute, putting his nose in her hair again, drinking her in before he sighed, “…but you did.” He said finally, smiling thinly as he squeezed his fingers around hers, refusing to let go, “you changed a lot Kairi.”

There’s a note of sadness there alongside the pride, a twist of guilt in his voice she does not intend to allow to grow, “it’s been a long time Sora, a lot happened to me, to everyone,” she laughed mirthlessly for a moment before nuzzling into him, basking in his heat, “besides the obvious, of course.”

He’s silent again for a brief second, and then he pulls away slightly, locking his gaze with hers, showing her there was still some guilt in there, a sense of responsibility for what happened. Like he allowed her to die, like it was his fault she needed to be saved, again, and the price he had to pay for it was nearly too much.

She would have to fix that way of thinking, wouldn’t she?

“Kairi…” He started, and she could hear the despairing, heartwarming speech coming from a mile away, “I…I’m so sorry for-”

She silenced him with another kiss, hungrier than the last, more confident. She liked the feel of his lips against hers, she decided, and she also decided that she had a lot of time to make up for, and that the single bed they were laying on was perfect for that purpose.

(She was still going to kill Riku after this, of course, no question of it, but first thing’s first…)

She wrapped her arms around him, and soon he did the same, his mouth clumsy on hers, eager yet uncoordinated, not the she was much better. They were both severely lacking in practical experience, bumping their noses and clacking teeth on more than one occasion, but they made up for it with passion and desperation.

They hungered for each other, the long absence and coldness in their hearts begging to be filled and warmed. Soon she found herself with her back pinned to the mattress, Sora peppering feather light kisses all over her face as he cupped it in his hands. Her own fingers were busy threading through his hair, eager to feel him, ecstatic at the chance to reinforce the fact that he was here, with her, real and in the flesh and here with her, and that this wasn’t another dream.

Because she’s had this dream before, many times before, when the loneliness threatened to overwhelm her, her mind would conjure this image of the two of them on a bed, totally engrossed in each other with no sign of slowing down.

It always ended before it got good, which served to fuel her loneliness and frustration. She hoped that, since this was real, that this Sora, unlike the one in her dreams (who was, coincidentally, not nearly as good with his hands and lips as the genuine article), would be so kind as to satisfy this warm pit at the bottom of her stomach.

“W-wait-Kairi wait-”

Oh damn it.

“Kairi I-”

“Sora.” She pleaded breathlessly, and the way his jaw hanged loose and his eyes widened proved it was effective at getting his attention, “not now, please not now, please I just want-”

“I know.” He says firmly, though he visibly swallows a lump in his throat as he keeps his palms pressed to her cheeks, “believe me I know, and I’m the same,” he breathes harshly through his nose when she turns her face to kiss his right palm, clearly fighting for restraint, “trust me on that, but-but Riku’s right, I need to tell you something.”

She barely stopped herself from whining, putting Sora’s face in her hands like he did with her, her whole world warming the space between her fingers, “can’t it wait till morning?”

“No.” He was firm this time, putting his hands on the small of her back to pull her up as he leaned back to sit on the mattress, gaze burning into her, “I need to say it now, there’s so much I need to tell you now because if I don’t do it now I’ll lose the nerve for it.”

Kairi was torn between planting another kiss on him, which she was sure would be enough for him to see sense and continue what they were doing, and biting her tongue to calm her burning nerves so she could listen to him.

Knowing Sora, and she hoped she knew him well enough, it was probably something both very heartfelt, very sincere, and very, very stupid. But seeing how serious he was, the warmth of his hands on her waist, the depth of determination in his eyes, she couldn’t help but smile at him.

“Alright…” She allowed, after a sigh, wrapping her arms over his shoulders and around his neck, leaning her forehead on his, smiling softly as his blush deepened, “tell me everything Sora, if it’s that important to you, I’ll listen to everything you have in your heart.”

Sora blinked at her, a bit taken aback, before matching her smile, “who taught you how to flirt?”

She placed a kiss on his nose before she put her forehead back on his, a toothy grin on her face.

She doesn’t think she’s ever been this…happy. This content to be with someone and exchange affection like this, her heart bursting with happiness and her face bursting into flame with every little action and smile Sora showed, it was ridiculous.

Sora rubbed his nose with her as revenge, and after a quick giggling fit from the both of them, he locked gazes with her again, as serious as he was when he asked her to listen. He closes his eyes and takes a breath, to steady himself, to straighten his thoughts in the order he wished to share, and then opens them again, and speaks clearly and resolutely, “I love you Kairi, more than anything in the world.”

Kairi could feel her blood boil, her face nearly catching fire. She was almost confused as to why, considering she’s known what’s in heart for a while now. She’s known since she saw that picture on the cave wall he made years ago, where he offered her a Paopu fruit, since they shared one while watching a sunset.

She’s known since the day he ripped himself apart simply to be able to hold her in his arms one last time before taking her home.

Hearing it though, in so many words, out loud, seemed more than enough to make her heart want to burst out of her chest.

And he wasn’t done, the hands on the small of her back pulling her closer to him as his eyes dug into her and refused to let go, “you’re amazing, you’re the reason I was able to push through the dark when I thought I was going to be overwhelmed, you remember what I called you right? When you saved me? Way back when?” His gaze grew soft as he recalled that moment, where she pulled him out of the dark and back into the fight, “you’re my light in the darkness Kairi, I want you to know that, I want you to know how strong you make me feel, how I feel like I can do anything so long as you’re by my side.”

Kairi could feel more tears falling down her cheeks, she felt overwhelmed, like she was drowning in him, utterly engulfed by him and his love for her. All the doubt and fear she’s felt over her search seemed so insurmountable, crushed under the weight of it all. And yet here he was, reaching out his hand again, pulling her up, inch by inch, and wrapping her in his light.

“And…” He went on, that sadness and guilt from before resurfacing, and Kairi had to physically stop herself from interrupting him as he went on, she promised she would listen to him, she promised, “what you went through to find me again? Bring me back? I’ll never be able to thank you for that; I’ll never be able to pay you back for all of that.”

She feels cold. Ice is spreading through her veins, and freezing her from her feet to her heart. He’s wrong. He’s wrong. She’s done nothing he needs to thank her for, she wasn’t some guiding light, just an angry girl who didn’t know her limits.

A child who walked right off a cliff expecting the bottom to ignore her.

(I’m the reason you were dead, the reason you pulled yourself apart, because I was weak and slow and failed even though I put all that work into training and learning how to use my keyblade I was less than useless I couldn’t do anything I couldn’t save you on my own I couldn’t beat Xehanort alone you helped me don’t you see? I was lost and angry and pushed everyone away without you I was weak without you I-)

“Kairi!”

His shout pulled her by the hair out of her sudden sink, a yank that left her out of breath and gasping, her cheeks soaked with her tears. She felt ill, a spike jabbing itself as far as it could go in her gut, she didn’t deserve this, all this praise from him, she didn’t deserve a love like this from someone like him, she didn’t deserve this dream-

He captured her face between his palms again, making sure that he was the only thing she could focus on. He was warm. His hands on her cheeks were warm and gentle and real and she felt like a fool for letting herself fall like this, so easily getting swallowed up by fear and doubt when Sora was right there, right in front of her.

Damn it why can’t she just be happy for once!?

“Kairi.” He repeats, firmly, “are you listening to me? You promised you would listen, are you?” He waited for her to make a few halting, stuttering nods before he went on, carefully enunciating each word as he said it, “You. Aren’t. Weak.”

She’s shocked still for a moment, and then a bitter, cracking laugh raises from her, “I said that out loud?” She laughed herself to pieces, more tears staining her cheeks as her voice grew weaker, “well, I bet that ruined the mood huh?”

Sora stared wide eyed at her for a moment, leaning back a bit to look at her fully, see every inch of her and all the angry red blotches covering her face from her tears. His face calmed, and his voice was a salve for her fraying mind, slowly pulling her pieces back together as he spoke, “Riku told me about what you did to get me back Kairi, how far you went, how you refused to give up.” He took her hands in his, rubbing circles on the back of her hand and knuckles, “you pushed and pushed and pushed, you never stopped, you were the first to go looking for me, and you’re the one who found me.”

He lifted her hands to his lips, placing a gentle kiss to her fingers tips, and she could nearly feel the refreshing rush of a cure spell working its way through her system, and she slowly found it easier to breathe.

“It took strength to do that Kairi, it took more strength than people who’ve fought for longer than you and I have been alive could muster, never doubt that.” He tightens his grip on her hands, placing them on his chest to feel his heartbeat, more frantic and pounding then it was when she felt it as he woke, “you’re the reason my heart is beating Kairi, you’ve kept me going since all of this started, I want you to remember that, alright?”

She bunched up the fabric of his shirt where she could feel his heart racing, some age old memory of when it was a sanctuary for her own heart surfacing, where his soul kept her safe without knowing. To think he thought the same of her, that she was something like that to him, it was hard to parse, impossible to believe, but he said it so earnestly what else could it be but the truth?

“Okay.” She answered, voice wavering, a wet, fragile smile on her face, pulling him closer so she could put her forehead to his collarbone, his chin tucking her in and his arms holding her in place and rubbing soothing circles on her back, “I won’t forget Sora, I promise.”

“I want you to live Kairi.” He spoke into her hair, placing another kiss on her crown, “I don’t want you to tear yourself apart to return some favor to me that you never owed in the first place, we’re even, you and I, always have been and always will be, and nothing will make me happier than to have you by my side,” he pauses for a moment, and she can feel him smiling in her hair, “that sound alright?”

“Perfect.” She answers swiftly, a pleased giggle bubbling in her chest as she nuzzled into him, holding him tighter, “that sounds perfect.”

They stayed like that for a while, wrapped up in each other’s warmth without moving, Kairi could feel her legs falling asleep but couldn’t find it in her to change positions, feeling so utterly content with the world and the angle she’s found for herself in it.

Eventually though, she could feel Sora shift slightly in her grip, though not out of discomfort. He opened and closed his mouth a few times, as if poised to say something but rejecting the words before they could fully form.

Reluctantly, she lifted her head from her cozy spot under his chin and looked up at him, wiping her eyes and smiling tiredly at him with no small amount of affection, “anything else you want to tell me, Sora?”

He visibly struggled under her gaze, pulling away one arm from his embrace to scratch the back of his head in a way the reminded her of a much younger boy, lounging on the sand while the world smelled of sea salt. “…yes.” He mumbled eventually, voice subdued as if he wasn’t sure he was allowed to speak this out, “but it’s…kinda stupid.”

If Sora, of all people, thought something was stupid, then it must be something utterly spectacular, which meant that Kairi really wanted him to say it, if only to have something to laugh at to lift the mood a bit.

“Didn’t I tell you I wanted to listen to everything?”

“Yeah but…” He looks away with a light blush on his face while scratching his chin and he was so cute Kairi had to hold back from kissing him so she wouldn’t interrupt, “but it's…really kinda silly.”

“Then you have to tell me!” She smiled up at him, searching for his eyes and smiling wider when she found his sky blue gaze locking with hers, “it’s been a heavy few minutes and I could use a laugh.”

Sora scoffed briefly, smiling incredulously at her as he sputtered, “well I’m not going to tell you if you’re going to laugh! It’s important!”

Despite his seeming outrage, he burst out laughing himself soon after, drugging her under as the previous heavy atmosphere from before dissipated completely. As soon as she could calm herself enough she grabbed one of his hands, still chuckling a bit as she squeezed it to get his attention, “if it’s important to you Sora, then I won’t laugh.” She let out a giggle when he raised an eyebrow at her, “okay I won’t laugh too much, but I will listen, I promise.”

He looked at her for a moment, his mind twisting itself into knots trying to come to a conclusion, before he sighed heavily and got up from the bed, turning her back on her and crossing his arms.

She blinked, flat-footed, “Sora?”

“Just…” He muttered, beginning to pace in front of the bed, his face severe in concentration, “just give me a second, I need…I need to get the words right…”

She blinked again, blank on what could have him so stuck on the words, but she stayed where she was, watching him slowly pace back and forth from one room of the wall to another. His lips moved without sound, as if sculpting the way for the words to come out properly without stumbling over themselves.

A part of her, a very childish, naïve part of her, had an innocent guess at what he was planning to say, but she pushed it back as far as she could before her face turned too red at the idea of it. It was a nice hope, but she shouldn’t raise such things so high, lest they shatter when they eventually fall.

Finally, Sora took a steadying breath, stopping right in front of Kairi and turning back to her, eyes nearly glowing with an emotion she found it hard to describe, something intense and bright that left her mouth dry.

Then, he took her left hand and held it between both of his, his palms wrapping it in a comforting warmth, locking gazes with her so she wouldn’t look away.

He then got down on one knee, and Kairi could vaguely hear the sound of a fuse shorting out.

She used her other hand to stealthily pinch her thigh hard enough to hurt, and sure enough the image of Sora, down on one knee, looking up at her with upmost love and devotion, did not dissipate and vanish, she wasn’t seeing things, this was actually happening.

She was so busy determining the reality of him that she almost missed him beginning to speak, “Kairi,” he spoke her name like a prayer, like a vow, softly and reverently, but firm and impossible to miss, “will you marry me?”

Kairi’s heart nearly exploded in her chest, her face flushing with heat as blood rushed up from seemingly her entire body to fill it. She had nothing, nothing to say to that, even after getting him back, even after hearing him tell her how he feels for her, her mind simply could not recover from the shock of hearing that.

Her mouth opened and closed a few times before she spluttered out a chocked, “what?”

Sora mistook her question for reluctance instead of disbelief, and kept going, “sharing a Paopu fruit means tying your fate to another person forever, making sure you’ll never be apart, right?” He barely waited for her to nod dumbly before he squeezed her hand between his palms and went on, “we shared two, and isn’t that kinda like promising each other two lifetimes?”

Kairi’s mind was too busy screeching a few variations of holy shit this is actually happening over and over for her to offer any kind of intelligent response to him, so she settled for a hesitant, “I-I guess?”

“I want more than that.” He leapt in as soon as she finished stuttering, her heartbeat going impossibly fast as he smiled up at her with so much hope and love she didn’t know how he could contain it all, “I want more than two, or three, or ten, I want every single lifetime I could possibly have to be beside you, I want to be by your side through anything life might throw at us next, I want to fight with you, travel with you, live with you and love you and be happy with you for as long as I can possible manage.”

She could feel more tears flowing down her cheeks, warm and happy.

“I…” He stopped for a second to catch his breath from the sudden burst he had earlier, edging closer to her while still on his knees, “I want…forever, with you, Kairi. I want forever, for as long or as short as forever end up being, I want to spend every single second of it with you.”  

And finally, he’s done. Kairi could only sit there, looking down at this boy, young man, who loved her with all of his heart and then some, sit among the love and affection he promised to give her, and feel more at home than she’s felt in years.

She pulls her hand from him, and there’s a light note of panic in his face when she does, “you were right,” she says, with the warmest loving smile she can manage, putting his face between her palms again, “it really was a little stupid.”

The note of panic increased for a moment before she leaned down to kiss him deeply and slowly, letting the taste of him and his warmth and his love place itself in her memory, his shoulders lowering with relief.

She pulled away from him, smiling again, “stupid that you actually thought you had to ask when you already know the answer to that question.”

He blinked, bewildered both by the kiss and her words, before a sheepish grin lit up his face, “it is wrong to want to hear it out loud?”

She laughed warmly, pulling him back on the bed by his shoulders and leaning her forehead on his one more time, leaning in until their lips almost touched, “ask me again.” She pecked his lips quickly, too quickly for him to return pressure, “ask me again and you’ll hear it.”

He put his hands on her waist, the warmth and weight of his fingers pleasing and calming, and took a deep breath, “Kairi,” he started, voice low, tone confident and solid, “will you marry me?”

“Yes.” She promised, kissing him again as she did, “yes, I will,” she kissed him a second time, a third, a fourth, adding another promise between his lips every time she came up for air, and she’s lost in him again, his warmth surrounding her and flowing into her without restraint, “I love you Sora, I want forever too,” another kiss, I want forever with you.“

He groaned against her lips as he captured them again, his arms crushing her against his frame before they both collapsed on the bed, tangled up in each other so that neither knew where one began and the other ended.

The night passed in warmth and passion, and Kairi knew that this, this place, between the sky and his heart, was where she belonged.

-_-_-

Sora softly brushed a lock of Kairi’s hair behind her ear, placing his palm on her cheek as she slowly breathed in and out.

He was awake for about half an hour now, but he didn’t want to move, didn’t want to ruin this perfect little moment where the morning sun played tricks on Kairi’s dark red hair and her face was peaceful and calm and content.

They were both still in bed, of course, covered only by a blanket as Kairi slumbered and Sora waited for her to wake. He wanted this moment to last, to engrave the image of Kairi smiling in her sleep into his mind so he never forgot it, so he can remember his promise to make her happy.

She deserved this and nothing less, he decided, to be able to sleep peacefully in his arms and not doubt herself. Her tears from the night before haunted him, Riku’s words about how she nearly ripped herself to pieces ringing loudly in his mind.

He loved her, this truth echoed in him with every breath she took and with every beat of his heart as he laid near her. He wanted to give her peace and joy, to love herself as much as he loved her, he wanted her to believe in herself as much as he did.

He wanted forever, and knowing their luck, forever might not be all that long at all.

Riku was right, they were lucky, the three of them, maybe luckier than they deserved, but he was determined to make sure they wouldn’t need to be so lucky ever again.

He didn’t know what else the world had to throw at him, but he was ready, ready to fight it all, every single evil thing that lurked in shadow and hate he was ready for. He was ready to fight with her, to put his hand in hers and jump into the unknown with her knowing, knowing, they will come out the other side still holding on.

He’ll give her a home, a family, every little thing she deserved, and there was so much she deserved, he’ll give her, and nothing will keep them apart ever again. Not darkness or destiny or prophecy, nothing.

Forever would have to wait a while though, for now, Sora will content himself with Kairi’s sleeping face, the light catching on her eyelashes as she breathed in and out in a steady rhythm.

After a few more minutes of this, Kairi’s face scrunched up a bit, she mumbled in her sleep for a moment, Sora holding his breath to keep quiet and watch, wait for the moment where she saw him, to make sure he was the first thing she saw as she woke.

Soon her eyes, dull with sleep but brimming with joy, caught sight of him, and tiny tears formed at the edges of her eyes as she smiled at him, "Sora…” her voice wasn’t relieved, or surprised, but happy, truly happy, truly accepting that it wasn’t a dream, that what she was seeing was real and loved her, “you’re back…”

Smiling at her sleepy words, Sora leaned in and pressed his lips to hers in a gentle kiss, breathing her in as she smiled against him with a lazy tilt, nose to nose with her as he smiled back. “I’m home.”

Kairi’s smile was the most radiant, most sublime thing he had ever seen in his live. She kissed him, and home would never leave him again.