For SoKai week, Day 5 - Nightmares
In his dreams, if he could even call them that, her death occurred over and over in excruciating detail.
Xehanort's Keyblade carved across her back in one swift, seamless motion. No part of him even hesitated or flinched. Her body arched, and for the split second she was awake, her eyes showed nothing but pain.
He was supposed to protect her.
He was supposed to be what she'd see when she opened her eyes.
But he couldn't get to her fast enough. He could do nothing but watch as her body crystallized above him and shattered. He'd never forget the sight, the feeling.
"Kairi!"
He shot up in his bed, his body shaking uncontrollably. The room felt hot, and he tossed his blankets aside. Resting his head in his hands, he was too weak to stop the crying, the shaking.
Footsteps grew louder until they stopped in his doorway. Sora hoped they weren't Riku's; he'd already awoken him enough times. He didn't even want to look. Maybe if he ignored, whoever it was would just believe he was fine and go away.
That didn't happen.
Smaller arms wrapped around him, pulling his head to their chest.
"Shh. I'm here, Sora. I'm here."
That was her voice. Sora's eyes shot open, unconvinced that it was really her. Sure enough, her violet eyes met him. He was too relieved to respond, instead burying his head into her.
His mind had convinced himself that his nightmares were real. Again.
The relief compounded with his guilt for causing such a commotion, and he continued to weep.
"It's okay," she repeated while running her fingers through his hair.
He wrapped his own arms around her and pulled her closer. As his fingers traced her back, he felt the scar under her thin nightshirt. It was hard to miss, crossing all the way from her right shoulder to her left hip. A gruesome reminder of the image his dreams would never let him forget. It wasn't going away anytime soon. Though she no longer flinched at its touch, he still pulled his hands away.
She sensed it, and positioned herself to sit against the wall, pulling him closer still so he wouldn't have to see or feel her scar. The scar that she knew was the cause of his nightmares.
"It's okay, just breathe," she whispered.
He did as she said, and the room grew quieter as his mind slowed. He focused, and after a moment, all he could hear was the sound of her heartbeat.
Her heartbeat.
She was here. Alive. Whole. Only by a miracle.
As she held him, he hadn't even realized that the tears had stopped flowing.
"I'm here," she said again, and he nodded against her.
"Will you stay?" he muttered.
"Of course," she stroked his hair, "I'm not going anywhere."
"I mean tonight. Will you stay here? With me?"
"Oh," her voice was calm, but her heartbeat quickened, "If you want me to."
"I can't trust my own mind, Kairi. You're the only one who makes it all go away."
She slid her back down onto the bed, still holding him. "Shh, I'm here now, don't worry."
She was more comfortable, more warm, than any pillow he'd ever owned. He wrapped an arm around her waist, never wanting to let her go ever again. He breathed in rhythm with her chest rising and falling. Gentle puffs of air tickled his hair whenever she breathed.
He fell asleep and, for the first time in weeks, didn't dream.
Here's a little hurt and comfort for Day 5 of SoKai week. I imagine that, even after Kairi rescues Sora, the visual of her death will haunt him for a long time. Knowing this, Kairi always sleeps close by. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed!