Ienzo had never been one for little details. The young scientist dealt with facts and figures, mellowed out by a bar of sea-salt ice creams and the company of long texts with minuscule script.
But, there was someone else to even out the extensive studies. A sweetener, if you will. It was a girl his age, with blood-red hair and all smiles and flowers. They weren't alike: his silent detachment to her chatty radiance, the washed out colors of the boy to the rainbow that she was. Yet, despite (or maybe because) of this, they soon became fast friends.
And she – or Kairi, as he liked to repeat over and over, because her name was sweet and soft – was why he'd plunge into his studies with earnest; the break would come quicker that way. Kairi was the reason Ienzo would, at times, sneak away from Even or wheedle candies from his elders.
They didn't mind that he would go out on those escapades. Or at least, not at the beginning, when the world was safe. But still, so long as they remained near the stalls and castle… the pair of them would be okay.
However, later on… Ienzo began to grow a bit nervous. His friend, almost but not quite his Kairi… she could leave him, could she? Because she was all brilliant laughter and sweet treats shared in the gardens and the scent of light in flowers. And Ienzo was barely a shadow of a boy, with silence and science and a tenuous grasp on her light…
They had soon figured out that there was darkness in hearts. But he wouldn't hear it was in everyone's. Kairi's heart would be void of darkness, a shining beacon – he was absolutely sure of such a thing. Maybe, if he managed to take it away from his own, she'd stay by his side. He wouldn't chase her away with the fear of shadows…
In any case, he had little doubt that their experiments would be successful. Even and Braig said that… so, if they said so, Ienzo could find little flaw.
When it was over, he'd get Kairi her favorite sweets; but first, to finish up today's tests.
