#tamtam88

[phoenix-downer]

With A Smile Chapter 1

~2235 words. Sora/Kairi. Starts during the end of KH3 and moves into KH4. Sora POV. Angst, Romance, Fluff.

This story is dedicated to @tamtam88​​, and the art is by her as well! Thank you again for drawing such a beautiful piece and providing such wonderful inspiration 🥺 ❤️  

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 

Summary: Sora and Kairi make their final stop on their world tour: home. Before he disappears, he gives her a special gift to remember him by, a paopu hair clip with a deeper connection to his memories than either of them realize. 

Sora had taken Kairi to lots of worlds. All the things he wanted to see and do with her, all the experiences he wanted to share before he was gone. But he couldn’t delay the inevitable forever, and so at long last he took her to the one place he both loved and dreaded. He sensed Destiny Islands before he saw it: the sea-salt lingering in the air, the hot tropical sun beating down on his skin, the crash of the surf nearby. 

“Oh, we’re home,” Kairi noted as they fully materialized, a tinge of sadness in her voice. She glanced at their surroundings. They were on the Main Island a little ways away from the Town Square, hidden behind a few scraggly bushes. The din of the yearly Ocean Festival drifted to their ears, and the smells of fried festival food, sweet candied fruit, and slow-cooked fish wafted towards them.

She released his hand and wouldn’t meet his eyes. “Does this mean…?”

He fumbled with the zipper on his jacket. “Yeah. I don’t know how much longer I have. But I promise I’ll make it through the festival and then to the Play Island. Everyone’s waiting for us.” 

He was fighting fate every second just to stay a little bit longer. To remain just a little further into the future. And while he was fighting a losing battle, he still felt like he’d won. Being with Kairi was his personal triumph, his “reward” as Xigbar had so crudely put it.

Kairi wasn’t a reward, she was his most beloved person. And being with her? No reward could possibly compare. So fate would just have to wait a little longer until he was ready to say goodbye.

He looked at her and knew he never would be. 

A few moments passed like this until at last she met his gaze and smiled. “Then I promise I’ll be brave until then.” 

“Kairi…” There were tears behind that smile, an ocean of pain behind those big blue eyes. Her voice might be playful and lilting, but only so she could hide the tremor and terror in it.

She shook her head. “I can cry when you’re gone. But for now, I want to smile and enjoy the time we have left. What good is it if I spend the whole time you’re still here blubbering?” 

He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’d like to be able to comfort you at least.” That was what a guy was supposed to do for the girl he was going out with, right? And he hated seeing Kairi cry. Especially when it was all his fault. He wanted to fix things, not make them worse. 

She hummed softly, then clasped her hands behind her back in that playful Kairi way he loved. “Then let’s make some memories now that will comfort me later.” 

He nodded. “Okay.” 

She found his hand, and he still felt giddy holding her hand like this. It was so small and soft and gentle, so warm and reassuring. He’d even dreamed about this, and now that his dream was a reality, he couldn’t get enough of it. 

She led him to the Ocean Festival, to the nearest food stall. A cute little octopus mascot advertised the takoyaki for sale, and he treated them both to a set of the fried octopus treat. The breaded part was nice and hot, and the octopus was fresh and delicious, just the way he liked it. They thanked the stall owner (an old family friend) before settling down at a picnic table with a checkered tablecloth on it.

Kairi made it partway through her takoyaki when she frowned and set it down. “Sora, do you think this is your last meal?” 

Yes. “I can’t say I really thought about it,” was all he said out loud. 

Kairi’s lower lip trembled. “It is, isn’t it?” 

Now he was the one who couldn’t meet her eyes. Her pain was like a dagger to his heart. If he said something now, he might really lose it.

“Well,” she continued, her voice chipper again, “it’ll just have to be the best last meal ever. To tide you over until you can eat with me again.”

He smiled softly at that. That was Kairi for you, talking about when they would eat together again, not if. She’d never been one to let fate get in the way of what she wanted. He wished he could follow his heart the way she followed hers. He tried, he really did, but he had his moments of doubt. 

Like right now.

She was not so easily perturbed. She put her hands behind her back and tilted her head in that delightful Kairi way again, making her hair splash across her cheek. “Well?” she playfully prodded. “What do you say?” 

“Sounds good. A big meal to tide me over until I can eat with you again.”

He was rewarded with one of her smiles. “We’re gonna try every single food stall then! Make sure you get all your old favorites!” 

He laughed. “Alright, alright.” She pulled him to his feet, and together they picked up treats and goodies from every single food stall and returned to the trusty picnic table. She teased him and challenged him to eat every last crumb of food, which he did till he reached the point he couldn’t possibly eat another bite. 

She poked his stomach and giggled. “You sure about that? Sometimes I think you have a bottomless pit for a stomach.” 

“I’m a growing boy,” he said, mock seriously. “What did you expect? I’ve gotta get taller than Riku somehow.” 

She stilled, and he wondered if he’d said something wrong. “Kairi?” 

She smiled, whatever it was that was bothering her gone now. “You can eat all you want, but I don’t know if you’ll ever be taller than Riku.” 

He crossed his arms and raised his eyebrow, continuing their playful little game. “Wanna bet?”

She tapped her cheek and pretended to be deep in thought. “Hmmmm, I’ll bet you a date when we meet again.” 

“Deal.” That was a bet he’d be happy to lose. 

She rested her hand on her chin, her lips twitching. “But honestly, Sora, I don’t mind if you never grow any taller. You’re just the right size to make me feel perfectly safe when you hug me.”

His heart fluttered at that, and he felt his face burning. “Really?” 

“Really really.” 

“So…you like hugging me?” 

She giggled into her hand. “I really, really do.”

He grinned. “I like hugging you too.” 

“I’m glad you do.” 

They just looked at each other for a few moments like they were the only two people in existence. Gosh, he was gonna miss her. He had no idea where he was even gonna disappear to, but so long as he was Sora he would long for Kairi, that much he knew. 

“Kairi?” he asked, reaching for her hand so he could weave their fingers together.

She earnestly searched his face. “Yeah?” 

“I, um, I…I…” He wanted to get the words out before he disappeared. Let her know what was in his heart before he was gone. It was the least he could do.

She smiled and shook her head. “Not yet. It’s not time.” She gently tugged at his hand. “C’mon, let’s go look at the trinkets.” 

Once again, she led him to the stalls where old family friends were hawking their wares. A jewelry stall in particular caught his eye thanks to the little hair clip with a paopu fruit on display. Kairi was always tucking a strand of hair behind her ear because her hair tended to do its own thing when she moved around. Maybe this would be a nice gift for her. 

He gave her some munny and told her to pick something out for herself from the clothing stall next door, which bought him time to make his purchase. She returned with a breezy tropical wrap that was varying shades of blue and captured the ocean’s hues perfectly. He complimented her choice and how nice it looked with her eyes, and she thanked him for the compliment and for the gift.

“So, mister,” she said as they strolled idly among the stalls, “what did you send me away for?”

“This.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small pink box. “I know it’s just a little thing, but I want you to have something to remember me by until I come home. It’s only fair when I still have your lucky charm.” He opened the box and handed her the paopu hair clip, and his hand flickered in and out of existence. Kairi’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears, but she smiled and took the gift from him. 

“It’s so pretty, thank you.” She tucked her hair behind her ear. “Could you help me put it on?”

“Sure.” He reached for the hair clip, his fingers trembling a little as he grasped it and undid the clasp. Very carefully, he lifted it and caught a slender lock of her hair, then gently clicked the hair clip into place. Smiling, he took a step back and examined his handiwork. “Kairi, you look beautiful.”

A faint blush dusted her cheeks, and then she smiled so freely and so warmly and so openly that it caught him completely by surprise. Heat crept up his cheeks, and his heart pounded. Was she always this beautiful, or had his feelings for her made her even lovelier to him? Either way, this memory would be etched into his heart forever. She’d asked him to make memories with her that would comfort her later, but he was pretty sure this moment would be a comfort to him too.

“Thank you, Sora,” she said sweetly, then rested a hand over her heart. “I’ll wear it when I come for you.” 

He tilted his head. “When you come for me?” 

She nodded. “When I come for you. I don’t care how long it takes. I will find you and I’ll bring you home.” 

He smiled. That sure was like Kairi, turning his declaration of protection on its head, telling him she’d come for him this time.

“Thank you, Kairi.” He reached for her hand, and together they enjoyed the rest of the festival. He never wanted this to end, but his time was growing short. He wanted to say goodbye to his parents before they went to the Play Island, and so she went with him for moral support. She was there, waiting patiently in the room a polite distance away, when he broke the news of his fate. And she stayed with him as he and his mother and father wept and embraced. He told them he’d be back soon, and he begged them to look after Kairi until then. 

“We will,” his parents promised, and she smiled and nodded. He wanted to ask Riku to watch over her too, but he knew his friend already understood. 

At last it was time to go to the Play Island. He simply opened a portal, and together he and Kairi went through it, reappearing at the paopu tree. 

The sun was sinking low in the sky. Soon it would be dusk, and then all the light would be gone. His life would be gone too, and with it his time with Kairi. 

He was determined not to cry. Their friends were celebrating just a little ways away, and he wanted these final moments with Kairi to be happy ones. 

Together they sat on the paopu tree, and he smiled fondly remembering her boldness when she’d offered him the fruit. That boldness, that complete fearlessness in following her heart, had saved him. Had saved her too. 

He offered his hand, and she took it. He wanted to hold her as close as could be, but he couldn’t do that and look her in the eye or see her beautiful smile. So this was a good compromise. And besides, he wanted to watch the sunset with her, hand-in-hand, side-by-side. Just taking in every precious moment. Home was here and home was her, and soon this would all be nothing more than a memory.

The clouds passed and the sun sank lower and lower in the sky, setting the entire world on fire with its golden light. 

It was time. He smiled and gently squeezed her hand. “I love you,” he said. Funny how three simple words could express an eternity’s worth of feelings from deep within his heart. It felt so good to say them too, to share them with the person who meant more to him than anything.

Her eyes widened and her lips parted, as if his words had come as a surprise. But no, she wasn’t surprised, just overwhelmed. A single tear welled up out of her eye and ran down her cheek, shining brilliantly in the sunset. She smiled bigger than ever, so happy and sad at the same time.

Oh no, he’d made her cry. He hadn’t wanted to make her cry. But she’d been so brave for so long that she couldn’t help it. And that was okay. It was okay to cry. He just wanted to go out with a smile. 

And so he did. As he faded from this reality, her smiling face was the final thing he saw.

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A/N: Thank you all for reading! And a big thank you to Tam for collaborating with me ❤️ She provided the story idea and drew the art piece that inspired the moment where Kairi smiles and Sora is just blown away 🥺 ❤️ And then some of her other art inspired moments in the next chapter which will be posted tomorrow for Valentine’s Day 👀 ✨ 

I had a lot of fun working on this one and I hope you all enjoyed ❤️ See you tomorrow!

[freeflowhighway]

This is some of the best Auron art out there.

One of my favorite artcollabs with @translucentchick @ultyso @naccidoodles @tamtam88

[translucentchick]

Organization 13 Short 40 - Re:Start

Thank you to @baihu27-blog @jinxscohr @lightwithinthedarknessu and @tamtam88 for your stickers! <3

[eeriecode-fgo]

FGO FanServant - Kairi, the Princess of Light

(artwork by TamTam88, originally found here)

Will contain spoilers up to Kingdom Hearts III after the break

Ascension Stages

First Stage: Kairi's outfit from Kingdom Hearts II, wielding Destiny's Embrace.

Second Stage: Kairi's outfit from Kingdom Hearts III, still wielding Destiny's Embrace.

Third Stage: Kairi is now dressed in a black leather dress, with a dark pink skirt underneath, a light pink jacket on top of it, and black leather boots. Her hair are also longer, close to their length during the events of KH2.

Parameters

Class: Caster

Alternate Classes: Foreigner (Traveler)

Source: Kingdom Hearts

Region: Destiny Islands

Voice Actress: Risa Uchida

Rarity: SR

Alignment: Lawful Good

Attribute: Earth

Deck: Arts (Buster: 2 hits; Quick: 4 hits; Arts: 3 hits; Extra: 3 hits)

Traits: Humanoid, Seven Class Servant, Female, Weak to Enuma Elish, Keyblade Wielder, Light User, Unrevivable

Passive Skills

Magic Resistance - Rank C

FGO Effect

Increase own Debuff resistance by 15%.

Guardian of the In-Between - Rank C

A standard skill among Keybearers who travel in the Lanes Between. Mere possession of a Keyblade grants its wielder a constant supply of magical energy, while the act of travelling across worlds marks them as alien to Proper Human History.

FGO Effect

Charge own NP gauge by 3% each turn.

Gain 1 C.Star each turn.

Pure Light - Rank EX

A unique skill representing Kairi's status as a Princess of Heart, her heart of pure light offers a near unbreakable protection from darkness.

FGO Effect

Increases own Debuff resistance by 30%.

Increases own damage by 300.

Increases own damage against [Darkness User] enemies by 700.

Reduces own damage taken from [Darkness User] enemies by 1300.

Custom Append Skills

Healing Boost

Replaces Append Skill 3

Increases healing given (50%~100%)

Bond Skill

Apply Delayed On-Death buff (1 time)

-- On Death: Gain 30 C.Stars.

Active Skills

Life Magic - Rank C+

A common ability among Keyblade users, this skill allows the user to treat wounds and status effects. This ability is strenghtened by Kairi's affinity for light, allowing her to perform feats that would normally require multiple different incantations with a single spell.

FGO Effect

Cooldown: 9~7 turns

Recovers HP for all allies (2000~3000)

Removes debuffs from all allies.

Increases all allies' DEF for 3 turns (20~30%)

Heart of a Princess - Rank B

An offensive manifestation of Kairi's affinity for light. While normally she would use this power to enhance her Shotlocks, as a Servant Kairi can manifest this as a set of buffs focused on banishing darkness.

FGO Effect

Cooldown: 8~6 turns

Increases all allies' ATK for 3 turns (10~20%)

Further increases all [Light User] allies' ATK by 20% for 3 turns

Decreases all enemies' DEF by 10% for 3 turns

Further decreases all [Darkness User] enemies' DEF for 3 turns (10~20%)

Seven Crowns of Light - Rank A

A crystallization of Kairi's status as a Princess of Heart. As one of the seven people in the Realm of Light who hold the key to Kingdom Hearts, the light in her heart gives her an authority and potential beyond comparison: however, since Kairi hasn't truly used that power to its fullest in life, the rank and power of this skill are lowered.

FGO Effect

Cooldown: 10~8 turns

Increases all allies' NP Gauge (20~30%)

Increases all allies' Critical damage for 3 turns (10~20%)

Increases all allies' C.Star Drop Rate for 3 turns (50~100%)

Increases all allies' NP Gain for 3 turns (10~20%)

Gain C.Stars (10~20)

Noble Phantasm

Door to Light - Rank EX

[Thinking of You, Wherever You Are] Rank: EX Type: Anti-Event Range: 1000 Max Targets: 1

A full manifestation of Kairi's power as a Princess of Heart. Unleashing this Noble Phantasm lets Kairi tap for just one moment into her full potential, allowing her to willingly perform feats she's only done subconsciously in life. The potential of this ability is massive, as expected from one of the cornerstones of the Realm of Light, allowing Kairi to perform miracles that come very close to True Magic: but even for a Princess of Heart, breaking the laws of the world like that will incur a heavy price...

FGO Effect

Arts Noble Phantasm, 0 hits

Revive 1 K.O. ally (30~50% HP. Priority is given to the leftmost ally at the beginning of battle. Allies with the [Unrevivable] trait cannot be revived)

Increases the revived ally's ATK by 30% for 5 turns

Increases the revived ally's NP Gauge (30~50%, scales with Overcharge)

Apply Invincibility to the revived ally for 3 hits, 3 turns

Apply Death to self (all Guts effects are disabled. If the user is affected by unremovable Guts effects, the Noble Phantasm cannot be activated)

Writer Notes

Ah, the dilemma of writing a fan-Servant version of a character who barely gets any time to shine in her series. I may have had a clear idea of what I wanted her Noble Phantasm to be like from the beginning, but everything else still feels so slap-dashed together...

The outfit for Kairi's 3rd Ascension is inspired by this concept art for a possible KH4 version of Kairi. All credits for the design goes to hollypolllyy.

As a general design note, after FGO's... interesting approach to game design shown during the 9th Anniversary, I've decided to only write down the Append Skills different from the standard (so, as of this writing, just the 3rd skill). This will remain true for any future fan-Servant.

So, why that effect for her Noble Phantasm? Think back to the three numbered entries in the series, to the thing Kairi has consistently done in all those games (apart from getting captured): - KH1: when Sora got turned into a Heartless in Hollow Bastion, she managed to turn him back into a human - KH2: when Sora and Riku were trapped in the Realm of Darkness at the end of the game, her letter to Sora managed to reach them and open a path to bring them back to the Destiny Island - KH3: when everyone got TPK'd in the Keyblade Graveyard, she managed to tether Sora to the Final World, which in turn allowed him to bring everyone back. If there's one thing that has been true throughout the whole series, it's this: whenever things are at their bleakest, Kairi is always there, a light in the darkness to allow her friends to keep fighting. As such, I think it's only fitting to focus Kairi's skillset around that: she's not a conventional DPS or support, but a joker who can bring your other fighters back during your darkest hour.

For balancing reasons, her Noble Phantasm cannot revive Kairi herself, mostly to prevent a Double Kairi System where they keep rezzing each other forever. Sorry, Kairi, I may have made you a Caster, but you're no Doctor Strange, you did in fact come to die! I'm on the fence on whether that trait would also prevent her from being revived via Command Seals, though I think it would be a fair drawback, given how strong her NP can potentially be. And yes, that note about unremovable Guts means that, if an hypothetical battle sticks you in a situation where you cannot die unless it's in a very specific way, she cannot escape that fate.

As for the rest of her skillset, I mostly focused it around supporting the team, to give her a role in battle outside of just "come in, cast Revive, leave". The numbers are a little low due to her being an SR: I know her kit would easily make her SSR-level, but she's had a role too small in her series to justify putting her in the same rarity as Sora and Riku (and yes, this does mean I plan to write Riku too eventually. As soon as I figure out his gimmick...). Plus, you know, can't have all of them be SSR!

And finally, sorry, I couldn't resist that joke on her 3rd skill's name. It's just an in-joke because of the coincidentally equal number, I'm not planning to actually make her a Beast: contrary to apparently Lasengle, I do have some standards!

[lightwithinthedarknessu]

“I want to be a part of your life no matter what. That's all.”

A sunset SoKai wedding dance where everything else melts away, and it’s just the two of them. ❤️ Commission for @tamtam88

I had the honor of being commissioned by my friend TamTam to design a wedding dress for Kairi 🥺💕We turned it into a wedding illustration. Thank you so much TamTam for working with me! I’m so honored you trusted me with this beautiful idea🥹❤️

It was a dream working with you and I had so much fun designing it together! ✨

[lightwithinthedarknessu]

Thank you so much @tamtam88 for the sokai collab!🥺❤️ SoKai having a sweet moment with the iconic KH1 Sega plushies 🥰! It was so wonderful working on this with you and I love the idea so much 🥹💖

A Sokai collab with my dear @lightwithinthedarknessu  ♡

A little story about a first date and some cute plushies in Quadratum (*^^*)♡

[phoenix-downer]

With A Smile Chapter 2

~1550 words. Sora/Kairi. Starts during the end of KH3 and moves into KH4. Sora POV. Angst, Romance, Fluff.

This story is dedicated to @tamtam88​​, and the art is by her as well! Thank you again for drawing such a beautiful piece and providing such wonderful inspiration 🥺 ❤️  

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2

Summary: Sora's life in Quadratum feels cold and empty until one day, he spots a girl wearing a familiar-looking hair clip that sparks his memory.

Life in Quadratum felt cold, empty. Like Sora’s heart was missing and he didn’t know what had happened to it. 

He didn’t feel like smiling or laughing. Didn’t feel much like joking around either. There was too much going on. The Heartless had invaded this giant city somehow, and he was constantly fighting. There were so many people that needed protecting, that needed to be kept safe, and the Keyblade was the only thing that could do it. Which meant he was one of the only ones who could do it. His battles left him starving and exhausted, so when he wasn’t fighting he was eating or sleeping. His life was just one dull, repetitive, draining cycle with no end in sight.

What was his life like before he came to this place? He couldn’t remember. His memories were gone, torn out of his heart and scattered like broken chains to the four winds. In their place was a deep fog he was drowning in, blocking his mind’s eye and dulling his heart. Most days he felt like he was just swimming aimlessly through the fog, and today was no exception. He went through the motions because he didn’t know what else to do, and right now that meant grabbing a quick lunch.

He ducked into a Seven Eleven convenience store, hoping for nikupan or croquettes or onigiri. Maybe if he was lucky there would still be some good bentos left, but it was a gamble whether he’d be able to finish everything in time. Half the time he got interrupted when he was trying to eat. Enough people recognized him as “that guy with the giant key” and wanted to ask for his help or his autograph (sometimes both). 

Thankfully, this time he was left to peruse the aisles. People were on their lunch breaks and wanted to get in and out so they could eat before they had to go back to work. That was the good thing about going to this convenience store: it was in Shibuya, which was such a busy part of Quadratum that no one really paid attention to the other people around them. 

It all just felt really…lonely. He longed for human connection. Strelitzia was his only friend here, and she was more reserved and needed her space sometimes. He wondered if in his old life he had lots of friends. If he used to be more talkative and outgoing. 

Thankfully his favorite type of bento box was still there. It had sliced and dried daikon, a piece of sausage, a croquette, fried chicken, tamagoyaki, mackerel, a little hamburg steak, and a fried veggie/meat roll, plus the usual rice, this time seasoned with red shiso flakes. He grabbed a bottle of green tea too and got in line. When at last it was his turn to pay, the convenience store clerk seemed to recognize him but politely carried out her job. Once his food was purchased, he went over to the white table and high chairs lined against the window to eat his food. 

He didn’t really have anywhere else to eat unless he trekked all the way back to his apartment in Minami-Aoyama, so this was his best option. A couple of other people were seated on either side of him, and they both politely ignored his existence as they ate their food. 

Wherever he was from, people talked to each other when they ate. Food was supposed to be a shared, communal activity. A way for friends and family to bond. That much he was sure of. 

Frowning, he broke apart his wooden chopsticks and removed the plastic cover from his bento box. Eating was now a reminder of how lonely every aspect of his life was. He and Strelitzia tried to eat together in the evenings, but that was entirely dependent on how much fighting he had to do and for how long. Sometimes he didn’t get home until after midnight, and all he had energy for was passing out on his futon. 

As he took a bite of the fried chicken, a small flash of yellow outside caught his eye. A girl with shoulder-length red hair was walking outside the store, wearing a long pink and black coat with a white blouse and black pleated skirt. The clip in her hair, it had a small, yellow fruit with a tiny green leaf on it. Something about that fruit was familiar—

She turned to look at him, her hair splashing against her cheeks. A gentle smile spread across her face, making her lovely blue eyes dance, like she knew a secret he didn’t and was teasing him about it. She was really, really pretty, and he felt the heat creeping up his neck and face. A cute blush dusted her cheeks, and as her smile got bigger, he swallowed and dropped his chopsticks. 

She made a playful motioning gesture, and he left his food and went to the door. 

“Sir, you’re forgetting your food!” the poor clerk called in the politest way possible, but he didn’t care. He had to go outside and meet that girl. Something about her was so familiar… 

She was waiting for him outside with a shy smile on her face. “Hello,” she said, her boot-clad toes pointing inward slightly in a way that was absolutely adorable. 

“Um, hey.” He rubbed the back of his neck. What was it about this girl that really drew him in? His eyes kept wandering to that little hair clip, something about it reminded him of home—

“Sorry, it’s just a lot to take in,” she remarked, her eyes roaming up and down him. “You’re taller and even more handsome than before.” She giggled into her hand. “It just doesn’t feel real, you know? I’ve dreamed about this moment for so long…” 

“Sorry, do I know you?” It was a genuine question; she certainly seemed to know him, but he didn’t know her, and maybe he was supposed to. His heart certainly was telling him that. She felt so familiar, so right, and he wasn’t sure why. 

Her lips parted, and a flicker of pain went through her eyes before they softened. “That’s right, they warned me you might not remember anything. It’s okay, I’ll help you get your memories back.” 

“Tell me, how do I know you?” he pleaded. This girl certainly seemed to have all the answers to the questions that had been haunting him for months.

“We’ve known each other a very long time,” she replied, but her answer seemed cryptic. 

“Am I in love with you?” he blurted out. His face turned bright red as soon as he did, but he couldn’t ignore what his heart was telling him.

She smiled sadly. “What do you think, Sora?” 

His breath caught in his throat. With just one word, she’d cleared the fog shrouding his heart and mind, like the sun breaking through the clouds. The chains of his memories clinked back into place and made him whole again. His name, she knew his name, she knew everything about him, and he knew her.

“Kairi?” he said, barely above a whisper. As if saying it any louder would break this fragile hope he was taking a leap of faith on.

Tears filled her eyes, and she reached for his face. “I told you I’d come for you, didn’t I?” 

He pulled her into his arms and held her as close as he possibly could. She’d kept her promise, she’d really come for him. She was really here, this wasn’t his imagination, this was real. Her warmth and scent and touch, her tears and joy and affection. 

When at last they parted, she placed her hand on his chest, and he rested his hand over hers, bumping foreheads with her. Her smile was so big and so beautiful, and her tears were happy ones. He closed his eyes and sighed, savoring this moment, sharing his heartbeat with her in the hopes it would share his heart. 

When at last he opened his eyes again, he asked, “There’s a really good cafe near here, wanna go with me?”

“Like on a date?” she playfully teased. 

He grinned. “You know it is.” He rubbed the back of his head, remembering the fate of his poor bento box. “I kinda ditched my other lunch because I got so distracted by this pretty girl, and I’d really like to take her out. Besides, I told her I would if I lost that bet she made with me.” 

“She’d like that very much,” Kairi replied. “There’s a lot she and this guy need to catch up on.” But then her smile fell, and her head drooped a little. “And…she wants to share a meal with him again.” 

Her lip trembled and her eyes shone with tears, and his heart filled with compassion for her. Their time apart must’ve been so difficult on her. He at least had forgotten until now, even if his heart knew something was wrong; she was aware of his absence every agonizing moment. 

“Then let’s go do that,” he said softly, holding out his hand.

She nodded and wiped her eyes, then took his hand. “Please, take me there.” 

With a smile, he did just that. 

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A/N: Happy Valentine's Day everyone! ❤️ 

The description of Sora's bento box comes from here. 

The moment when Sora sees Kairi through the convenience store window was inspired by this lovely piece of art by Tam.

And then the moment after Sora and Kairi hug was inspired by this beautiful piece.

Thank you again Tam for working with me and for providing such wonderful inspiration 🥺 🙏 And thank you all for reading!

[translucentchick]

Happy Tekken 8 Release day!

Collab with @baihu27-blog and @tamtam88!

[baihu27-blog]

Happy Tekken 8 Release Day! Collab with @translucentchick and @tamtam88

[baihu27-blog]

Happy Birthday @lightwithinthedarknessu ! It was great collabing with @tamtam88 to make this gift for you! Thank you @translucentchick for starting this project!

[baihu27-blog]

One of my favorite artcollabs with @translucentchick @ultyso @naccidoodles @tamtam88