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hinataoc · 2 years ago

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It’s SoKai Week! I wasn’t able to get much done for the event, but I did manage this fun fic of them in Corona! Make sure to check out @sokaiweek to see all of the amazing SoKai content!

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Meant to Be

Words: 2920

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“No, no, that’s all wrong,” Eugene complained, crossing his arms. “Where did you learn how to hang garland?”

“If you’re so picky, why aren’t you the one hanging it?” Sora countered, waving the purple garland down at him.

“Hey, I’m not the one with magical flying powers to hang things up in high places,” he pointed out. “But if I were, I would put it a little higher and to the left. That’s all I’m saying.”

Kairi giggled while Sora groaned and continued his bickering. She drew her attention towards the rest of the castle town. It was her first time in Corona and every detail lived up to the tales Sora would tell her. The entire kingdom bustled with life and warmth, getting ready for the princess’ birthday celebration.

“Are those two still bickering?” Rapunzel asked, coming up behind Kairi and stopping beside her.

“Of course,” Kairi told her with a laugh.

She playfully rolled her eyes. “Eugene, it doesn’t have to be perfect.”

“You might think so, Blondie—” he cut himself off and cleared his throat, “or formerly Blondie, anyway. But this is the first year I’m in charge of your birthday, and that’s a lot of responsibility!”

“Even more than being Captain of the Guard?” she asked.

He was about to argue back before Kairi cut in, “It’ll be great. Everything already looks wonderful. I’m sure it will go well!”

“She’s right!” Sora agreed, hopping down from the rooftop and grinning proudly. “What do you think?”

“Oh, well now that’s just sad,” Eugene lamented, motioning up towards the garland that was poorly knotted around the spire.

“It’s fiiine!” Rapunzel laughed, grabbing Eugene’s arm and pulling him away from the store front. “We’re going to have a great time today. All of us are. Because, it’s my birthday, and I decree it.”

“Can you do that?” Sora asked.

Eugene's frumpy expression faltered as he chuckled and wrapped his arm around Rapunzel’s shoulder. “She’s the princess, of course she can.”

Rapunzel nodded and told them, “Now that the decorating is done for now, how about you guys go enjoy the celebration?”

“That’s a great idea!” Kairi agreed, placing her hands together in front of her. “Thank you, Princess.”

“Yeah, thanks Rapunzel.” Sora walked to Kairi’s side and pointed over his shoulder. “There was that pastry shop I’ve been wanting to show—”

“Captain!” a guard called out, threading between the townsfolk before scrambling to a stop in front of the royal couple. He was clad in armor, breathless as he leaned his hands against his knees.

“Stan, what is it?” Eugene asked, stepping away from Rapunzel.

“Th-Those dark creatures, th-they’re back, in the forest!” Stan stammered out between his breaths.

Sora and Kairi exchanged a look. “Did they have glowing yellow eyes?” Sora asked, pointing to his own eye. When Stan nodded, Sora crossed his arms and nodded. “Yep, that’s Heartless all right.”

“Oh come on!” Eugene groaned. He rubbed the back of his neck and paced. “Heartless, here? Of all the days to show up, they pick today?” Running his hand over his face, he let out a breath and got serious. “Alright, we have to take care of them before they get into the kingdom.”

“You can count on us!” Sora laced his hands behind his neck. “Kairi and I could take them out with our eyes shut. Right?”

Kairi looked up at him in surprise, still getting used to how confident he was in her abilities. It was a nice feeling. He peeked over at her and she smiled warmly as she nodded. “Right.” She looked back to the group. “We’ll take care of them.”

“Ah of course!” Eugene exclaimed, waving his hand towards them. “Why didn’t I think of that? My sidekicks take care of the unwelcome guests while I stay here and fix all the decorations Sora put up.”

“Hey!” Sora leaned forward, placing his hands on his hips.

“Kidding, I’m kidding,” Eugene assured him, raising his hands in surrender while Kairi and Rapunzel snickered.

Kairi looked to Stan, who watched the group’s exchange with a mix of silent confusion and amusement. “Where did you see the Heartless?” she asked.

He darted his attention to her and saluted. “Just past the wildflower clearing. Right outside the palace walls.”

Giving him a nod of thanks, she directed her attention to Sora with a smirk. “I’ll race you there?”

Sora immediately grinned. “You’re on!” Looking back to the princess and Eugene, he told them, “You two just focus on getting everything ready for tonight and leave the rest to us!”

“Alright then,” Rapunzel quickly agreed. “We’ll handle things here.”

Before the words finished leaving the princess’ mouth, Kairi slowly stepped backwards. Sora immediately caught her movement and smirked, pacing back faster before they both spun around and sprinted out of the castle town. Townsfolk gasped, stepping out of the way of both of them as they weaved between them.

“Thanks a million!” Eugene called after them, his voice fading the further they went.

Kairi’s heart fluttered in her chest. The race was exhilarating, and she couldn’t stop the grin from spreading over her face at the sound of Sora’s laughter as he rushed to keep up with her. Passing the gate, they only had the bridge to cross before they reached the edge of the forest. Sora cut in front, a blue shimmering magic emanating off of his body. He hopped onto the stone railing of the bridge and slid along at an impressive speed, seemingly leaving Kairi far behind.

She didn’t even blink as he passed. A familiar adrenaline pulsed in her chest, and pink particles erupted around her. Kicking off the side of the railing, she vaulted into the air, twirling and stretching out her arms to fly. She glided over the glistening lake, cutting over towards the beach.

“Hey! No fair!” Sora’s voice objected behind her, but she could hear the excitement in his voice.

She giggled, pausing her flight to simply float. “I don’t remember any rules against flyi— Ah!”

“Gotcha!” Sora’s arms wrapped around her from behind, sending both of them twirling through the air.

“Sora!” Kairi squeaked in surprise, her voice bubbling into laughter as her cheeks warmed with blush.

She wriggled around in his arms to face him, seeing a similar warmth to his face as he snickered. Her heart could have melted from the goofy, adorable look on his face.

“What?” he asked, tilting his head ever so slightly to the side.

“I think you know,” she teased right before kissing the tip of his nose.

Her heart jumped on contact with her lips meeting him, even after all this time. Sora chuckled, his arms tightening around her for just a moment.

“Yeah, I think I do too,” he agreed, a lovestruck expression softening his face. They gazed at each other for a moment longer before Sora cleared his throat and looked away. He looked towards the treeline and then back to Kairi. “Do you think I could swing you up so you can get a better look over the forest?”

Kairi blinked, almost forgetting why they were there to begin with. “Oh! Right. Yes, let’s do that.”

Sora grabbed onto her wrist and she gripped onto his. He sent her a reassuring smile before spinning around, bringing Kairi along with him. Then he released her, sending her high above the treeline. Kairi’s Keyblade flashed into her grasp and she hurled it even higher up. At the peak of its momentum, she disappeared in a flash of magic and reappeared at its hilt.

Cool chilling winds greeted her. She shivered, floating high above the forest and all of Corona. The entire world lay out before her. She could see the towering mountains and the wall that separated Corona from the other kingdoms. Beyond it were gorgeous fields of flowers across rolling hills and shimmering lakes. She spun around, seeing the kingdom beyond the water.

“Wow,” she breathed out, suddenly wishing Sora were up as high as she was.

“Do you see anything?” Sora asked, his voice barely carrying over the wind.

Kairi peeked down at him, tiny against the shoreline, patiently awaiting her. She looked back over the forest and refocused. It didn’t take long for her to see the unmistakable glowing eyes of the Heartless between the thicket.

“Found them!” she called down to Sora.

Holding out her Keyblade, a sparkle of magic burst from the tip and shot into a stray Shadow Heartless amongst the group. The moment it met its mark, she could make out its outline, even amongst the trees.

“Great shot, Kairi!” Sora cheered her on from below, already disappearing in a mist of blue as he leapt to the branches.

Kairi somersaulted and began her downward descent. The further she went, the louder the whistling wind became against her ears. Nearing the treeline, she cried out, magic emanating off of her Keyblade. With a whirl, she shot out a barrage of pearls of light. Each one brilliantly illuminated the forest floor, finding their mark in various Shadows scampering through the thicket. Kairi landed with a roll, skidding a few feet before she stuck her Keyblade in the ground and caught herself. She stood back up straight, seeing her pearls of light impact the Heartless, bursting them into clouds of smoke. Green orbs scattered over the ground, some of them swirling into Kairi and refueling her energy. Sora landed beside her, taking a moment to gather a few of the remaining orbs before turning around and leaning his Keyblade over his shoulder.

“Got started without me, huh?” he teased.

Kairi giggled. “I’m sure there'll be plenty to go around.”

As if in response, the unmistakable sound of Heartless appearing caught their attention. They exchanged a smirk before running further into the forest. At a clearing with yellow wildflowers speckling the vibrant grass they found massive dandelions swaying from the breeze.

Sora settled into a prepared fighting stance, looking around as Kairi marveled at the plants. “So pretty,” she said under her breath, about to reach out to touch it.

“Careful, Kairi!” Sora called out to her.

All at once, the dandelions shook violently. Kairi stumbled back as the dandelion she had been admiring shot up into the air, a tower of smaller flower-like Heartless supporting it from below. It wobbled side to side, then leaned forward, aimed straight for Kairi. A translucent barrier surrounded her, just in time as hundreds of thin, white spikes bounced off its surface.

Sora landed on top of her barrier and vaulted off of it. He sliced his Keyblade along the side of the tower and it toppled over, sending the flower-like Heartless sprawling in every direction. Kairi looked over the battlefield from the protection of her barrier, taking everything into account.

“I can do this,” she told herself, dissipating her shield. “Sora!”

He reached out for her without even needing to ask what she needed. They gripped each other's wrists and jumped into the air. Spinning around, their Keyblades ignited with blazing magic. Rings of light pulsed along the ground, before Sora and Kairi slammed back down, sending out a wave of water that seemed straight from the ocean back on the island. It washed over every Heartless, catching them in its current before it began spiraling above the couple in a whirlpool. Sora and Kairi held up their Keyblades together, meeting them together for a finishing spell. Golden sparkles shimmered across the blades, conglomerating at the top to create the shape of a paopu fruit. Beams of light shot out from the star, swirling into the whirlpool and piercing through the Heartless.

Kairi’s heart pounded in her chest, her nerves tingling from the overwhelming magic all around her. Sora’s hand over her own kept her grounded as they watched every Heartless disappear with flashes of light. It was a spectacle, one she wasn’t sure she’d ever get used to. She glanced over at Sora beside her, and her breath caught. The way the magic’s light doused him in color, his face full of wonderment and joy. He caught her gaze and smiled warmly at her. His eyes danced over her and Kairi wondered if he was as entranced as she was.

The water evaporated above them and translucent magic orbs showered over them from the defeated Heartless. They looked up, seeing the sunlight shine rainbows through the bubbles before they absorbed into them, refilling their energy.

“I wonder if that’s all of them?” Kairi asked softly.

“We’ll walk back to the kingdom and see if we find any more,” Sora suggested.

Kairi hummed in agreement, smiling when Sora’s fingers interlaced with her own. She looked up at him, seeing the same smile across his face as he gave her hand a squeeze and began leading the way.

They met with a few pockets of remaining Heartless along the way. Each batch easily dealt with, though time passed swifter than either of them anticipated. Kairi didn’t mind. She beamed every time Sora’s hand would wrap around her own before they’d continue on their way. Before they knew it, the sun was beginning to set. Golden sunlight poured through the trees, painting the world around them with warmth.

“I hope they aren’t worried about us,” Kairi mused aloud as they walked.

“Hmm?” Sora asked.

“Rapunzel and Eugene,” she clarified. “We might miss the celebration.”

“Oh,” Sora realized, ruffling the back of his hair. “We could probably fly back now and let them know everything’s been taken care of.”

Even with his suggestion, Kairi wondered if she could sense something in him that didn’t want to go— or if that was her own imagination hoping he felt that way. They continued walking for a moment, before she shook her head.

“Actually, I think I’d prefer to keep walking,” she confessed. “It’s… nice to have this time with you.”

Sora looked at her, a smile slowly growing as he nodded. “Yeah, I think so too. Just the two of us. Though I feel bad you might miss the lanterns.”

She hummed. “Well, there’s always next year.”

With a chuckle, he admitted, “That’s true.” He looked back forward and gasped. “Oh! There’s something up ahead you have to see!”

He rushed forward, pulling Kairi after him. She laughed, catching her balance to keep her pace with him.

“What is it?” she asked.

Entering a clearing, they stood at the top of a steep hill. Lavender flowers covered the hillside. They glistened under the setting sun, and swayed from the gentle breeze, sending petals floating through the air. Kairi’s eyes widened, her mouth falling agape.

“So beautiful,” she breathed out. She looked up at Sora, noticing his gaze settled on her with a lovestruck smile across his face. A warmth filled her cheeks as she pushed back her hair behind her ear and giggled. “What?”

Without answering, Sora leaned down and kissed her cheek. Both of their breaths caught the moment he pulled back. Kairi’s heart leapt in her chest, making her feel breathless.

“I think you know,” he teased, repeating her from earlier.

He released her hand and ventured into the flowers. Kairi watched him for a moment, her heart warming the longer she did.

“Yeah, I think I do, too,” she admitted.

Sora peeked at her over his shoulder, grinning adorably. She smiled back, her body feeling light. The moment he turned his back completely to her, she bit her lip mischievously and got an idea. She burst into a run and wrapped her arms around him from behind.

“Gotcha!” she cried out amongst his surprise yelps, sending both of them tumbling to the flowery ground.

Sora fell face first into the flowers, his muffled laughter sent Kairi into her own fit of giggles. She held herself up enough to let him roll back over to face her. Leaves and flower petals stuck out from his mussed up hair.

“Give me a break, Kairi,” Sora couldn’t keep the laughter out of his voice.

Kairi snickered. “It was too hard to resist.”

Their laughter took a moment longer to die down, and they were soon left gazing at the other with softened smiles. Sora’s eyes danced over Kairi’s face again, a warmth filling his cheeks. She felt entranced by him, then noticed his gaze ever so slightly drift towards her lips. His hand slid up her arm, to her cheek. Kairi leaned into his touch without so much of a hesitation and Sora’s smile grew as he pushed back her hair behind her ear.

“Hey, Kairi?” he asked softly.

“Hmm?” she asked with a hum.

Sora lifted his head and ever so gently, met their lips together. Kairi’s breath hitched, her eyes sliding shut. She kissed him back almost instantly, her heart fluttering with thousands of butterflies. Sora lingered, before pulling back. He opened his mouth, about to say something, before Kairi kissed him again. He smiled into the kiss, chuckling when their lips parted.

“I love you,” Kairi whispered, saying the words fresh in her heart.

Sora blinked, then chuckled. “Hey, that’s what I was gonna say.”

“Beat you to it,” Kairi giggled.

“I love you, too.” He threaded his fingers through her hair and rested his hand along her cheek. “So much.”

She leaned into his touch again and hummed. This was what she always wanted. Their journey, the trials and the struggle to be together— everything was finally perfect. The way it was meant to be.

#sokaiweek #sokaiweek2022 #Kingdom hearts #hina-writes

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currantlee · 2 years ago

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The Antidote

(Ao3)

Sora, Donald and Goofy have done it! They have defeated Xehanort once and for all. However, the old master has a final ace up his sleeve.

~ 2.9k Words. Rated T (Teens and Older). Written for SoKai Week 2022 (Day 6). Alternate Reality (KH3) - Kairinort Special thanks to @theeeveetamer who helped edit this story and can do the absolute best Goofy voice impression I've ever heard

Author's Note: Can you believe SoKai Week is almost over again? It's been such a blast this year!

Sora was panting. His heart was racing, so much so that he could feel his own pulse in his head and fingertips, and his lungs were screaming at him for more oxygen.

Across the round plaza the χ-Blade clattered to the floor and Xehanort, despite his best efforts to stay on his feet, collapsed. Despite everything, Sora couldn’t help but feel a bit sorry for the old man.

“Why… How…”

Sora knew that his empathy was misplaced here. This man had ruined so many people’s lives. He flung his hand out to the side.

“It’s over now! You lost!”

He still couldn’t quite believe that they had actually made it. This battle had undoubtedly been the hardest he had ever fought, and he was glad that Donald and Goofy had been by his side for it. They had been there for him ever since the very beginning.

“No, look…” Xehanort finally managed to lift his head, and he was grinning. This wasn’t good… “You are too late.”

Sora looked up at Kingdom Hearts, and noticed that it looked different than all the times he had seen it before. It looked like it was flaring, burning.

No… That couldn’t be! After everything they had done… How hard they had fought…

“Are we really too late?”, he could hear Goofy say, but it sounded distant in his head.

Sora clenched his teeth. “What’s gonna happen?”, he asked, knowing that even though he had the upper hand, Xehanort still had the χ-Blade. Perhaps there was no way of stopping him without it, but Sora knew he had to try.

Xehanort chuckled, slowly managing to get back to his feet.

Sora clenched his teeth. “What is going to happen?”, he demanded once again, but before he could get an answer he heard steps behind them. Were the others finally arriving? Good! Then maybe, they had more of a chance to take Xehanort down for good together.

Sora summoned Kingdom Key once more. He had a feeling he would need it. Despite feeling like he was barely able to stand, he still wanted to stand by his friends’ sides. He knew that if they were with him, he was ready for anything. They were his power after all…

“Guys,” Sora said and clenched Kingdom Key a bit harder, “whatever Xehanort’s doing, we have to stop him!”

“My, my, Sora,” Xehanort chuckled, “where are your manners? Are you not going to greet your friend?”

“Shut up!”

“What, did you not miss me, lazy bum?”

Sora’s breath hitched. That voice… He would recognize that voice anywhere. But… It couldn’t be! Was this another of Xehanort’s tricks?

He turned around, just to be sure.

Kingdom Key dropped to the ground.

“Kairi.”

There she was, right in front of him. Her clothes were dirty and torn, and she looked worn out, like she had just battled a thousand Heartless. She had her head lowered, and her maroon hair obscured her face like a curtain. In the light of the flaring Kingdom Hearts above them, it looked more like the color of blood.

Sora felt his heart sink. She must have gone through so much to reach them here, and he didn’t even turn around to greet her. He wanted nothing more than to run to her, embrace her, cry on her shoulder, apologize, promise her everything would be okay…

But Kairi was dead.

“You’re not real,” Sora whispered. “You can’t be.”

That meant… He felt his fury grow. “Stop messing with me!”, he shouted at Xehanort, without turning around. He just couldn’t take his eyes off her, even though she was probably just an illusion.

“It’s okay, Sora,” Kairi said, and her voice sounded very real, and very soothing. Sora felt his heart aching, and warm tears started to run down his cheeks. “I’m here.”

“Well, it does not matter,” Xehanort said. “All of you are already too late.”

Sora sighed. He wanted to believe she was alive and real so badly, but…

He took a step towards her. He needed to know what was going on, just to be completely sure, but before he could get any closer to her Donald grabbed his hand. “There is no time for that!”, he scolded. “We still gotta stop Xehanort, remember?”

Sora sighed. “Right,” he said. He turned back to Kairi. For now, it didn’t matter whether she was real or not. If she wasn’t, then they would have to defeat Xehanort on their own. But if she was real… “Are you ready to lend us your Keyblade? We could really use it right now.”

He had wanted to fight alongside her ever since she revealed that she could wield a Keyblade too. This wasn’t how he thought it would happen, nor how he wanted it to happen. Above all, he wanted to keep Kairi safe, and Xehanort was perhaps the most dangerous opponent he’d ever face. But they needed all the help they could get. He just had to keep her safe in battle then.

“I am as ready as I’ll ever be,” Kairi said. She held out her hand to summon her Keyblade and Dest-… Wait, that didn’t look like Destiny’s Embrace!

Sora had never seen the Keyblade in Kairi’s hand before. Its shape was somewhat reminiscent of Destiny’s Embrace, but the wave on the hilt was missing, and some thorns were sprouting from a vine which wound around its blade. Instead of the bright colors of the sunset, the blade was dark and brown, and looking closer, the once vividly colored flowers at the teeth were withered. It was a stark contrast to the bright red flowers hanging from the tip of the blade, like someone had placed a crown on it upside-down.

“You like my little upgrade, Sora?”

He swallowed. “Where did you get it?” What happened to Destiny’s Embrace?

“You don’t like it?”

“No, I just…”

“Well, it doesn’t matter,” Kairi interrupted him and finally raised her head. Their gazes finally met, and Sora could feel his eyes getting wet again at the sight. His heart broke all over again, and he collapsed to his knees.

“Let’s finish this!”

“No,” Sora whispered. “No, please, no…”

“What have you done to Kairi, Xehanort?”, Donald shouted.

Goofy placed one of his hands on Sora’s shoulder, perhaps in an attempt to provide some comfort, but nothing could stop the agonizing, desperate scream that tore through his entire body.

“WHY?”

Why, why, why? Why her? Why, out of everyone and everything in the entire worlds, why her? Sora knew there was a simple answer to that question, but he couldn't bring himself to even think about it.

“Sora, you gotta get up an’ fight…”

“No,” Sora half-sobbed, half-screamed. “No, I can’t! Don’t ask this of me, please!” Anything but this.

“There is no time for this!”, Donald shouted furiously. “Don’t you see that this is exactly what Xehanort wants?”

“I can’t fight Kairi,” he whimpered and curled up. “Please… Don’t make me.”

“Sora, she isn’t herself anymore…”

“I can get through to her!”, Sora protested. He couldn’t bear the thought of anyone fighting Kairi, but even less doing it himself. “Please, let me…”

“There is no time!”, Donald snapped.

“I know,” Sora said as he staggered to his feet again. “But I have to try.”

Donald and Goofy exchanged gazes. “Alright,” Goofy said. “Go ahead. We’ll keep an eye on Xehanort for ya.”

“But be careful!”

Sora smiled. “Thanks.”

He wiped his eyes from the tears. Donald was right, there was no time for crying and having an emotional breakdown, even though Sora felt like one was about to happen any second. He could have those later. Kairi needed him now.

He took a step towards her. “Kairi, what happened?”

“’What happened?’”, she mocked his tone, still not lowering her Keyblade. “Really now, Sora? Out of all the possible questions you could ask, you’re choosing this one? You were there. You already know what happened. You let her die.”

Sora’s heart ached knowing that she – or at least some part of her – seemed to blame him for all of this, even though Xehanort was the one to blame here. Xehanort didn’t have to kill Kairi. If he wanted Sora to attack him, then kidnapping her would have been enough. No, it had just been another attempt to break him, and he was doing it again by turning her into a vessel.

But Sora refused to give up.

Right now, the only thing keeping him from falling apart was the knowledge that his friends, all the people he met really, needed him. But most of all, she needed him.

“Alright,” he sighed. Talking probably wouldn’t work as long as she was under Xehanort’s influence. It was like his words could barely reach her altogether, but Sora knew she was still in there. He’d have to do something more extreme to bring her out, something Kairi could never do.

“Hurt me.”

“Sora, what are you…”

Snap!

Sora yelped as he felt a stinging pain on his right shoulder. Thorns tore through his clothes into his skin, and were then ripped out by the brute force of a retracting whiplash.

He gasped as he stumbled backward, pressing his left hand onto the wound more or less subconsciously, both in an attempt to stop the blood and to soothe the pain. It only got worse however. He… Had not expected this.

“Did you really think you’d get through to her like that?”, Kairi, or rather Xehanort through Kairi, cooed. “Face the truth, boy: Kairi is gone. Even if you manage to free her from my control, her heart will never be the pure light you love so much again! She will always be corrupted, just like you and the rest of your friends are.”

“Is that really what you believe?”

Kairi raised her Keyblade again. “Give up,” Xehanort said behind him. “Or I will make her hurt herself. We don’t want that, do we?”

“Shut up,” Sora interrupted him, without turning around. “I’m not talking to you.”

“Well, you are talking to me as his vessel,” Xehanort said through Kairi. “So you are talking to me…”

“I’m talking to Kairi,” Sora corrected him, without turning around. He would not give this man the attention, and he was grateful that he didn’t have to thanks to Donald and Goofy backing him up. “You’re not welcome to this conversation, Xehanort.”

He could hear the old man snort. “You don’t get to…”

“I want to ask you something, Kairi.”

Kairi lowered her Keyblade and crossed her arms. “I am listening.”

Sora took a breath. This was it. If this didn’t work, then he didn’t know what else could. “Do you really believe I only love your heart of pure light?”

She pressed her lips together. “Well, what else could you love about me?”

“Everything.” Sora took a step towards her, feeling slightly off-balance as he did. “I love your courage and your kindness. Even though you aren’t the best fighter, and even though you’re scared, you wanted to help the best way you could. You even trained with Axel, despite the fact that he kidnapped you back when he was a Nobody, and you were willing to forgive him for it. That takes a lot of kindness and courage.”

“Is that all you got?” Kairi sounded almost bored, but Sora could hear something else in her voice. “Those are traits of the light, you know?”

He didn’t let her remark or his own dizziness impede him and took another step forward. “I love your devotion and your determination,” he continued. “You had no idea how to fight, but in a matter of a few weeks you became good enough to stand your ground in a war, against more experienced fighters. Maybe you lack experience, but you make up for that with your determination, and I admire that about you.”

“I got kidnapped by Xemnas,” she countered. “The strength you admire isn’t there. I’m pathetically weak .”

“I love your strength,” Sora said, taking another step forward towards her. The longer he talked, the easier it got. “Strength doesn’t necessarily mean being a good fighter, Kairi. There are so many ways to be strong, and you are so much stronger than most people I know. You got taken from your home as a child, grew up in a foreign world, had your heart stolen, were kidnapped multiple times, told you weren’t good enough…”

“By you,” she remarked.

“That is true,” Sora said. “Because I wanted to protect you. I couldn’t bear the thought of losing you again. But I was wrong, and I’m sorry that I hurt you like that.”

He took a breath. “And yet, despite everything you went through, you still retained your kindness, your determination and your light. You are strong, Kairi, even if you aren’t a strong fighter on the battlefield yet.”

“And still, you love only the pure light…”

“I love your insecurity, and everything that comes from it,” Sora interrupted her and took another step towards her. He had almost closed the distance between them. “I love that you’re angry with me for telling you to stay behind because it’s too dangerous, and calling me out for it, because I was wrong. I love your modesty, even though you’re way too modest sometimes, but never dishonestly so. You may not know how great of a person you are, but that’s why I’m here telling you that.”

“You even love that I was insecure and weak enough to let Xehanort take control of me?”

Sora sighed. No, but that wasn’t her fault. Xehanort had simply taken advantage of her, but it wasn’t the right time to tell her that.

“I love your sass,” he said instead. “You can even be a bit mean at times, but I know it’s never malicious. You would never hurt someone intentionally, even when you do end up hurting people from time to time, and that’s okay. We all make mistakes, Kairi. It’s human to not be perfect.”

“Shut up!”, she shouted. “Shut up!”

Sora took the last step, finally closing the distance between them. “I love you,” he said, “with all your flaws and imperfections. I never loved the pure light inside your heart, Kairi. I never loved what you are, I love who you are. I love you , and you’re so much more than just your light. If you have darkness in your heart now then well, guess what, I don’t care! It doesn’t make you imperfect, because you were never perfect in the first place. I love being around you, simply because you’re an amazing person to be around, and I would love to be with you.”

He carefully wrapped his arms around her. To his surprise, she didn’t struggle. She just stood there as he pulled her into an embrace.

“Please,” Sora whispered, “come back to me, Kairi.”

If that wasn’t enough, then he was ready to die right here and now on the spot. He knew that by spilling his heart out like that he had given her everything he could. His love was all he had, and if she couldn’t accept it, then there was nothing else he could do.

But then, he heard a sob.

Sora could feel his jacket getting wet on his left shoulder as she wept, and he knew that Xehanort’s control over her was broken.

He tightened his embrace around her and gently rubbed her back. “It’s okay,” he whispered. “It’s okay…”

“I’m sorry,” Kairi sobbed, and this time, it was truly her, and only her. “I’m so sorry!”

“Shhhh,” Sora whispered, but it came out slightly slurry. His vision was starting to blur. “Kairi, it’s okay…”

“What a heartwarming reunion,” Xehanort interrupted. “Well, it is too late now one way or another. The purge is already happening.”

Sora loosened the hug and turned around. He didn’t care about what Xehanort had to say. He was likely just trying to get them to give up in order to complete whatever purge he was talking about. Sora wasn’t going to give up now just when he got Kairi back, despite the exhaustion, the dizziness, his screaming muscles, and his heart that was already beating so fast that it almost hurt. He could not give up just now. They deserved a happy end.

He re-summoned Kingdom Key, only to be reminded of his still bleeding wound by the ache in his shoulder.

Sora gasped and grabbed his shoulder again. He gritted his teeth. Okay, he definitely needed to heal that wound first before he did anything else…

“Heal,” Kairi murmured at his side, and Sora felt his dizziness fading. His muscles were still aching, but nowhere as badly as before, and his heart rate slowed down. The wound wasn’t closing, but overall, he felt much better. Had he been poisoned?

He turned to her. “Thank you,” he smiled, before casting a simple Cure on himself. It wasn’t enough to fully heal the wound, but he would need as much of his remaining magic as possible for the upcoming, inevitable fight. It would have to do.

“Kairi, are you ready for this?”

“Huh?” She looked at him with wide eyes, like she couldn’t quite believe that he actually asked her this. They were still golden, likely because the piece of Xehanort’s heart was still inside hers, but her expression was completely different from before. There was the warmth that Sora knew from Kairi’s indigo eyes, rather than the coldness of Xehanort’s golden ones.

He nodded, and she immediately smiled at him. “Yes.”

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