I wouldn't be me if I wasn't late to the party, now would I?

In all seriousness, I'm not really involved heavily in fan communities, so SoKai Week almost past me by – which would be a shame because this is basically the one ship I care about. And, as time goes on, I enjoy writing for and about Kairi more and more. So, I want to do my part and take part this year, at any rate. Major thanks to ShireFolk for enlightening me to SoKai Week and for giving me the prompts.


CONTINUITY NOTE: This is an alternate continuity not in line with Kingdom Hearts III. KH III has no baring on these stories. Because KH III blows chunks.


Trouble was stirring throughout the worlds. The perilous tide of darkness was rising. The Heartless returning in full force. Danger and uncertainty cast their shadows across the entirety of the Realm of Light.

They all knew that this peace would be fleeting, but Kairi wished it had lasted just a little while longer.

Weeks ago, it was decided that, in order to counteract the unknown enemy, in order to prevent things from spiraling out of control too fast, the various Key Bearers and their allies would split into teams and go searching for the root of the problem. Sora was paired up with Donald and Goofy (heaven forbid anyone break apart that trio). Riku and Roxas sortieing together, with Mickey tagging along. Terra and Ventus had already departed, two brothers in arms finally reunited. And that left the girls on their own, Aqua with Kairi and Namine at her side.

Roxas and Namine were upset to be separated. Sora and Kairi were similarly frustrated. But they had all swallowed their complaints in order to best serve the needs of the mission.

Even if Kairi couldn't shake the misgivings in her heart...

The day of departure came sooner than any of them would have liked, with each of the three teams having a different rendezvous point for pick-up; Mickey, Donald, Goofy, and Aqua coming from off-world to pick up their charges.

Kairi and Namine were currently on their way to the southern point of the island, where Aqua had scheduled to meet them, but not before Namine double-, triple-, and quadruple-checked all of their supplies, making absolutely certain they had everything possible.

She's just nervous. Kairi thought in reflection, as the two sisters made their way through a dirt trail, cutting through a patch of wild grass and assorted greenery. But I can't really blame her. Something about all this has my stomach in knots. Kairi was trailing behind Namine, her head lost in a haze.

Kairi had done her fair share of fighting. She was determined to be proficient with her Keyblade, and she had many people to guide her forward to that goal. She had gone adventuring with Sora and Riku and Roxas and Aqua and the warriors of the Radiant Garden. She wasn't just some helpless damsel anymore. She was a seasoned adventurer at this point in her life.

Namine was none of those things yet, so it made sense why she was worrying.

But Kairi, despite everything she had been through, couldn't shake the trepidation she was feeling.

I know why. This is the first time since back then that we've been separated like this. Kairi stopped dead in her tracks, fingers twitching and shaking. She balled her hands up into fists. The first time we'll be going our separate ways with no way of knowing when we'll see each other again – if we'll see each other again – in how long...?

Almost two years. I've been counting the time. Twenty months.

It had been twenty months since the Organization fell and Sora and Riku finally returned home.

It had been thirteen months (coincidentally) since they were able to extract Roxas and Namine from within the hearts of their others, granting the two ex-Nobody a chance at a life they deserved.

It had been six months since Sora, Kairi, and Riku pulled Aqua from the Realm of Darkness, and the four of them restored Terra and Ven to normally, reuniting the three wayward friends.

So much had changed in that short amount of time. Sora, Kairi, and Riku were finally able to make good on their childhood dream and explore the many worlds at their leisure. Kairi had been able to meet so many new people and see wondrous sights beyond her wildest imagination.

She had new friends in the form of Roxas and Terra and Ventus who she adored and cherished and cared for as much as any of her old companions.

She had a sister in the form of Namine. Someone who with she could share her hopes and dreams, her fears and doubts, confide within her darkest secrets, and bask in one another's joy and happiness.

She had a master and teacher in the form of Aqua. A person and warrior she respected and adored and idolized and loved. Someone she strove to be like. Someone who would show her the path forward whenever sadness and uncertainty gripped her heart.

And, she had the love of one young man who she cared for above all else. Who she loved with all her heart.

So much has changed, I guess I'm just afraid of losing it all. Of losing any of it.

Kairi's hands continued to shake. Growling in annoyance, she shoved them deep into the pockets of her dressed. Something hard brushed up against the knuckles of her left hand. Confusion struck her face for a moment, before Kairi realized what it was. She desperately gripped onto the object like she was a soul lost and sea and it was her only lifeline.

"Kairi? What's the matter?" Kairi looked up to see that Namine had also stopped, though she was standing thirty-odd feet ahead of her. She must have heard Kairi's growl. "We can't stop now, we're late meeting Aqua, as is."

"I-" Kairi caught herself, as her fingers idly traced the object in her pocket. A crazy, impulsive idea began to form in her head. "Listen, Namine," Kairi began to take a few steps backwards along the path, "Tell Master I'll be a little late. There's one last thing I need to do before I leave."

Namine blinked, utterly baffled. "What?" But, in the time it took her to say that one word, Kairi had turned about and sped away from the blonde. Namine called out in futility, but it was too late. Everyone knew that once Kairi had her heart set on something, she would not stray from that path until she had it.

(~S/K~)

Donald and Goofy were landing on the western most beach to retrieve Sora in their old Highwind ship. Kairi cut her way through every sidestreet and back alley and wilderness trail she knew of in order to make it to them in time. It was just like when she was a little kid, rushing home from school, going through every shortcut in order to catch her favourite after-school cartoons right on time.

By the time she broke through the last bit of underbrush and made it to the beach, Kairi was sweaty and dirty from the physical activity, and scraped up from the weeds and thickets, but, in between laboured breaths, she sighed in relief.

The Highwind was still parked on the beach. She could see Donald and Goofy just entering the interior of the vessel, with one last individual still making his way up the rampway.

She had made it, just in time.

"Sora! Sora!" Kairi cried out, breathlessly, jogging towards her beloved. Sora came to halt, turning about, and looking just as confused as Namine was earlier.

"Kairi? What are you doing here?" Quickly, Sora made his way down the ramp to meet Kairi on the sandy beachfront. "Shouldn't you be with Aqua and Namine right now?"

"Yeah, I should be but..." Kairi swallowed, hard. It had felt like forever ago when they finally confessed their honest feelings to each other, so why was it still so difficult to talk to him like this? Why did she still get so nervous around him?

Why am I so panicked, here and now?

"Before we go, I wanted to give you something." She finally said. Her hands retreated to her pockets, once more.

"Oh?" Sora looked quizzical, but then he seemed to catch on. Closing his eyes, Sora leaned forward and puckered his lips.

In the moment, Kairi felt her nerves alleviate, as she almost broke down in laughter. This utter goofball. Even after all this time, he still hadn't changed one bit...

Kairi kissed her wonderful boyfriend, the two smiling from the romantic contact. "That was nice, Sora. And thank you, but... that's not what I had in mind."

"Then what was?"

"Hey, you two lovebirds, knock it off! We got a schedule to keep!" Donald squawked from the top of the ramp. They both knew he was teasing, but it still caused Kairi to jump in start, her face turning as red as her hair.

"Easy, Donald, just give us a moment, okay?" Sora pleaded, a slight smile on his face, earning a noise from the wizard that was half sigh and half chuckle. Turning back to Kairi, Sora asked, "Well, Kai? What is it?"

"It's... something you've had before." She began, cryptically. "Something you had with you when you fought Ansem and Xemnas. Something that both kept you safe, and that you kept safe." Sora quirked an eyebrow, desperate for an answer. Kairi finally withdrew the object held in her pocket.

It was the star-shaped charm she had made from thalassa shells.

Kairi's lucky charm.

Sora's confusion only deepened. "But that's yours, Kairi." Sora pointed out. "You have gave it to me for luck, and I brought it back, safe and sound. Just like I promised."

"Just like you promised..." Kairi repeated, with a fond smile on her face. "But I want you to have it again, Sora, because..."

Because I'm afraid we won't see each other again, if something goes wrong.

"Because it might be my lucky charm, but it brought you all the luck in the world. Even after everything you went through, you came home safe and sound. It might sound silly, but I think this charm helped you come back to me – to us, I mean!" Kairi blushed again, a cute streak of red striking her face. "Come back home to all of us..."

Sora considered the small charm for a second. It sure seemed so much bigger when he held it in his hands the first time...

"I don't think that's silly at all, Kairi." Sora said, earning a slight smile from Kairi. "Even before you got your Keyblade, you always helped me in my darkest hours. Your charm helped me, too. I'll keep it with me and we'll both come home, together, back to you. Like always!"

Kairi felt her dread ebb away at Sora's confident declaration. He always knew what to do and say to make her feel better.

"But, wait... if you're giving me this..." Sora muttered to himself, before snapping. An idea had come to him. "Oh yeah, great idea! Kairi, close your eyes for a sec. And lower your head a bit, too."

Kairi did as she was bid. "What's this, another kiss?"

"Nope. This is something for you. An oath for you to keep. A charm to protect you. To make sure you come home safe, just like I do."

Kairi felt something brushed against her hair, passing all the way down her long, crimson locks, and slide down on her neck. Something cool and metallic pressed up against her neck and collar.

Kairi opened her eyes to find that Sora had given her his trademark crown necklace.

Her right hand went to touch at the pendant, overwhelmed with the emotion of the gesture.

"I know that even if we're worlds apart, no matter what the challenges we have to overcome, we'll always be together." Sora said, taking a hold of Kairi's other hand, earnest and sincere happiness lighting his eyes. "Ours hearts are as one, and we'll always return to each other."

Kairi's eyes welled with tears of joy. "Absolutely. We'll always find each other. I'll come back to you, Sora. I promise."


The quotes for the prompt were "It's my lucky charm. Be sure to bring it back to me/Don't worry. I will".

Until next time, fellow SoKai fans!