In the Shadows

Rated: T
Genre: Romance, Friendship
Pairing: RoxasXKairi {Roxiri}, SoraXKairi {SoKai}
Summary: At nightfall, someone is lurking in the shadows. He is hard to miss with that flaming hair of his, but still, the job needs to be done. He's swift, he's sharp and he strikes when you turn your back on him. He's a living jeopardy. He's- "Sir, why are you hiding in my apple tree?"
DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN KINGDOM HEARTS.

Chapter Four:
An old story and a new friend

"Sora!"
The boy woke up with a start. He rubbed his eyes sleepily and yawned. "Oh, hello Donald," he said, smiling sheepishly as he saw the duck getting worked up. "I err… I guess I just fell asleep."
"Sora, the Organization sent us a message!"
Sora jumped off the bed. "What? Show me!"
Donald handed over the small paper and Sora grabbed it in a hurry. His blue eyes darted over the paper and his eyes narrowed as his face fell.
"They got her," he muttered under his breath. "They have Kairi."
"What do we do, Sora?" Donald asked with concern. "We can't go save her. It's obviously a trap."
Sora started to pace through the room, his hands in his spiky brown hair. "We have to save her," he said. "We have to!"
"Sora-"
"NO!" the boy yelled, his hands clenched into fists. "We can't just leave her there! They might kill her!"
"But the King-"
"I don't fucking care about the King," Sora roared. "They have Kairi!"
Donald looked furiously. "Sora, it's a trap! There's got to be another way to save her!"
Sora rubbed his forehead, frowning hard. "Please, Donald. Let's just head to the World That Never Was. Please."
The duck hesitated, shuffling a little bit in uneasiness. "We can't just head there…"
"Donald…"
The duck was startled by the difference of tone Sora used. The boy looked down at his feet and seemed worn out.
"I promised Kairi I would come back. I've left her at the Island for more than a year."
"Sora," Donald said gently. "She will understand-"
"Of course she will understand," Sora murmured, smiling just slightly. "We're talking about Kairi here."
"So-"
"I've been fighting for your King for more than a year," Sora continued. "I've been missing her for more than a year. I never even got the chance to tell her-" he swallowed and remained silent.
Donald was struggling. A part of him wanted to answer Sora's wish to go the Castle That Never Was immediately, but the other part of him wanted to contact the King to know what to do.
"Donald, I need to find her. Can't your King do something for me this time?"
The boy had finally looked up, tears in his eyes. "I need to find her before it is too late."
"Sora…" Donald said, the struggle continuing in his chest. "We'll contact the King and ask him for ourselves, okay?"
Sora was beaten. As the duck left the room to discuss the new route with Goofy, Sora sank on the floor, fighting the tears.
He slammed his fist onto the ground. "Goddamnit!"
He needed to find her.
She had to forgive him.
Before it was too late.
-x-x-x-x-

"Good morning, Princess."
She woke up with a start, realising she fell asleep somehow.
"Who's there?" she asked, tensing up.
"Roxas," a cheery voice said.
Kairi smiled a bit as she sat up and wrapped the blanket closer around her. And indeed, there he was, the blond figure standing in front of her prison, the aluminium package already in her prison.
She saw that he hoped she would come and get it while he was here.
"How are you doing today?" he asked, leaning casually against the bars.
"Better," she said.
"Good," Roxas answered with a smile.
"So," she said, hesitating. "How are you?"
He smiled. "I'm fine, really."
"I'm glad," Kairi answered, smiling back even though he wouldn't be able to see it.
"Say, Princess," Roxas said, holding one bar with his hand. "Could you tell me who this Sora is? Your best friend?"
She sighed. "Sora is a Keyblade Master, I told you a few days ago."
He smiled uneasily. "I know, but who is he to you exactly?"
She closed her eyes. "I was born in Radiant Garden."
"Seems like a nice place," he commented. "But what has it got to do with Sora?"
A smile crept up on her face as she opened her eyes and saw the friendly expression on his face. "You're in for a story?" she asked, a little bit shocked of her own playful tone.
"Sure," he said, grinning widely. "I've got nothing else to do today and," he said, suddenly a little bit shy. "I like hearing your voice."
Kairi felt her cheeks warm up and saw his do the same.
"Please continue," he murmured as he looked down. "I'll listen."
"Err," she said. "So, I was born in Radiant Garden. My parents were both Keyblade Masters and they were often away, so I was raised by my grandmother."
"Was she a nice woman?" Roxas asked, looking back again as the embarrassment of his remark had faded from his face.
"Absolutely," Kairi answered with a smile. "She was one of the nicest people I've ever met. But one day, a message came that my parents had died in battle."
"I'm sorry."
Kairi shook her head. "Don't be. I didn't really know them. I just miss them sometimes, but it's more the thought of parents that I miss, I think."
She run a hand through her hair. "That was the day the Darkness came in our town. My grandmother ran away with me, but she realised she wouldn't come far. She was old and couldn't run so fast anymore."
"What did she do?"
"She put me on a raft and sent me away, telling me it was going to be okay and that we would see each other again. And that I never should let go of my smile and my light." Kairi smiled tenderly. "Of course," she added sadly. "I never saw her again. She was swallowed by the Darkness, just as the rest of Radiant Garden."
"It's quite a sad story so far," Roxas said softly.
"I guess so," Kairi said gently. "But it got better, at least up until now. I came in a storm with the raft and after a while, I washed up on Destiny Island's shore. I completely lost my memory and didn't know where I was or what had happened. I was found by Sora," she said, a nostalgic feeling tugged at her heart. "He was the one who took care of me that day, who brought me to the mayor and gave me a new home. He was my first friend."
"I see," Roxas murmured. "And then?"
"I was very shy at first, I was at an entirely new place and I had trouble making new friends. But Sora was the one who grabbed my hand and led me through that tough phase. I started to become at ease, but I never let go of Sora's hand. It just felt good, even as a kid," Kairi said, blushing a bit. "Even after meeting Riku, who was older, I still clang to Sora."
"He didn't mind, for sure?" Roxas said, grinning.
"At first he didn't," Kairi admitted. "But in the way he could stand it that other kids teased him, he couldn't not stand it that Riku teased him. Riku was like Sora's older brother, you see."
Roxas frowned a little. "I don't really see the point," he admitted. "I thought all guys bragged about having a girl," he added, laughing a little. "Guess I was wrong, though."
Kairi laughed as well. "That's a point later in life, Roxas," she said pleasantly. "At first, guys think all girls are stupid."
"Interesting," he answered, running a hand through his messy hair. "I never had those experiences myself, so it's kind of confusing."
Kairi started to laugh, a bit confused as well. "You've been a child too, right? Did you never meet any girls or can't you remember?"
"I can't remember," the boy admitted, looking at his feet. "Perhaps I've been a child. The only thing I remember is this place. All I can remember is being here, with the Organization."
Kairi felt sad for him. "It's a shame," she murmured. "The outside world is lovely. Childhood is lovely. Once it's gone, it's never coming back," she said, rubbing her arms. "I've noticed recently."
"But, please," Roxas said, smiling apologizing at the shadows. "Continue. You were not finished yet."
"Well, Sora and I grew a little more distant in those days," she said quickly, as if she wanted to be over and done with it. "I started making more friends on my own, especially since I wasn't allowed to play with them anymore. Sora started to have mock fights with his friends, with those wooden swords. I was scared to death something would happen to him."
"Did it ever happen?" Roxas asked as he sat down.
"Once," Kairi answered, thinking hard. "He bruised his ribs and he threw up a lot. I visited him every day."
"That's pretty loyal," Roxas commented. "You must care about him a lot," he added hesitantly, as if he wasn't sure he was using the right words.
"I do," Kairi reassured him. "Even then, I cared about him very much. Yet he always told me not to worry and watch myself. Guess he was right," she added in a low voice.
Roxas chuckled uneasy. "Heh, well... perhaps he was," he said, looking away.
"Yeah," Kairi said, looking down as well.
After a while, Roxas cleared his throat. "I'm sure he cares about you as well," he said, nodding reassuringly at her. "He'll be here soon."
They both didn't go into details about that statement. They both knew it would be bad for either of them.
"I've gotta go," he said, looking slightly sad. "I'll be back soon."
"It was nice talking to you," Kairi said gently. "I'm glad I got to speak to you again."
"I know," the blonde said, flashing her a grin. "Let's do it again soon!"
As his footsteps faded away, Kairi rested her head against the cold wall. Did Sora ever think about her the way she thought about him? Somehow, the blonde reappeared in her thoughts.
Kairi shrugged it off and closed her eyes.
He would be here soon. If not for her, it would be for something else.
She just hoped he would be here soon.
For her. Just for her.