And we have reached the final day! Not to toot my own horn here, but I am super surprised with myself that I was able to do this on time. I didn't even know about SoKai day until 4 PM on June 2nd. Then, I went to my game night and didn't get home until 9:30, where I banged out 2,000 words in two hours, uploading the first chapter before midnight. Like, holy hell, go me!

Again, big, big props to ShireFolk for introducing me to this whole shebang. And a friendly shout-out to the entire SoKai community for holding this event and for just being swell people in general.

Enjoy the final chapter, everyone!


"Come on... come on... pick up, guys. How am I the one who's on top of this?"

Sora muttered to himself, pacing around the tiny confines of the Highwind's cockpit. He had tried to just sit and wait, but he was far too nervous and jittery to sit down and wait.

Waiting. Waiting. Waiting. Waiting for the communication systems on his Ship to link up with the systems of all of his friends, for one big joint conference call.

All this damn waiting.

"Just sit down, would ya!" Donald cried out. "You freaking out won't make this go any faster, Sora!"

"I know. I know! But... still, this is killing me! Why is it taking so long to connect? We really need to get a new ship, next go around, guys."

The reason for Sora's agitated and apprehensive state was manyfold. After Kairi's team had started digging on the Radiant Garden, uncovering what exactly was behind the recent spike in Heartless activity, everyone else involved in the quest – Sora, Donald, Goofy, Riku, Roxas, Mickey, Terra, and Ventus – all spread out across the Realm, hunting down the four heralds of Chaos. It had been a bit of a chore, but everyone had done their part. Terra and Ven were the first to score a win, slaying Lich. Riku, Roxas, and Mickey had an encounter with the draconic Tiamat, an encounter that proved fatal for the later. And, in the end, Sora and company faced down and bested Kraken within the sunken city of Atlantis, and the finished off the serpentine Marilith in the steaming confines of the Rhythmic Jungle.

But, the four heralds weren't the only issue at hand. Kairi, Namine, and Aqua had stayed behind on Radiant Garden, in an attempt to unearth more information about Chaos, and also in a bid to prevent it's revival from happening. Normally, Sora wouldn't have any problem with this – Sora believed in Kairi's strength and skill, even with whatever misgivings she possessed. Plus, she had Aqua with her. What would they have to worry about? But, Chaos had effected some kind of communications blackout over the whole of the Garden, preventing off-world communication except from very powerful devices.

None of the girl's Mog Phones counted as a powerful enough device.

And, so, Sora had to deal with a slow drip-feed of information regarding his girlfriend and her mission, as oppose to daily updates she had been posting prior. It wasn't too much of a problem, other than creating a niggling sensation in the back of his head at the most inopportune moments. But then...

Two days ago, everyone had gotten word from the Radiant Garden that Chaos had indeed awakened, and that Kairi, Namine, and Aqua were on their way to do battle with the great demon. All three other team were, at the time, in the middle of a mission on the far side of the Realm, and couldn't respond in time to the update.

No one had heard anything from the Radiant Garden since then.

To say that Sora was worried would be an understatement. He had never felt this bad in his entire life. He would rather face down a thousand Xemnases than have to grapple with Kairi's unknown fate.

Sora continued to pace and mutter, as Donald just sighed and grumbled, before Goofy entered into the cockpit, carrying a steaming mug with him.

"Here ya go, Sora!" The Knight of Disney offered his longtime party member the mug. "It's chamomile tea." Goofy explained, when Sora cast a wary eye towards the hot liquid. "Suppose to calm your nerves. Figured you could use it right about now."

Sora mumbled a thank you and took an exploratory sip. He wasn't much a tea person, and the drink was still way too hot to drink right now, but he appreciated the gesture, and could use any manner of help right about now.

Sora blew on the tea a few times, just about getting it to a perfect temperature, when the computer console behind him signaled and beeped loudly, announcing the conference call had gone through. Announcing it loudly.

Sora just about dumped the contents of the cup on himself.

"Sorry for the wait, everyone." Sora could hear Ven say from behind him.

"Isn't your fault, Ven. It's that old hunk of junk he's still piloting." Riku commented, also sounding from behind Sora.

Sora turned about, to face the project video screen dominating the cockpit. It had been divided into three thirds, showing off Riku, Roxas, and Mickey aboard their ship (Sora immediately noted it looked much nice that the Highwind). Terra and Ven were present, too, though, their images were much more scrunched up on the screen, the two being broadcasted via Ven's Gummi Phone. That's what you get when you travel via Keyblade Glider, over Ship.

However, the final third of the screen didn't contain the angelic visage of Kairi. Nor the similarly wonderful selves of Aqua or Namine. Instead, it was Leon. And the scarred gunblade user wasn't looking a hundred percent either, with heavy bandaging applied to his face, as well as his right arm in a sling.

Sora already didn't like where this was going...

"Guys, what's going on...?" Sora began, slowly. He was trying to stay calm, despite the lump in his throat and the pit in his stomach. "Leon. Where're Kairi and the others?"

"That... it's a bit of a long story, Sora." Leon replied. Sora took a nervous sip of his tea, giving his old friend a pleading look. To continue. To give him some good news.

Please give me some good news, Leon...

"First, I should let you all know, Chaos has been defeated. Kairi was the one to strike it down, in the end." Everyone seemed incredibly relieved at the announcement. A glimmer of pride welled up in Sora's heart, hearing Kairi got a chance to prove herself in the heat of battle. "We don't know if it's gone for good, but it's gone for now, at the least. But..."

"But..." Riku fished, arms held across his chest. He was the one who seemed the least satisfied from the announcement of Chaos's end.

"But it was not an easy battle. Most of us arrived to back the girls up – myself, Cloud, Tifa, Aerith, Yuffie, Lightning, Celes, Kain, Lulu, Vincent. Even those damn sky pirates showed up to lend a hand. But, even with everyone gathered there, the battle was hard and brutal. Most of us were hurt." Immediately, Sora could feel the air leave the room. All the rooms. Roxas particularly looked very concerned.

Do I look like that, right now? Sora thought, as Leon continued to speak.

"Most of us weren't hurt very badly." Leon slightly raised his sling-bound arm. "A trip to the hospital and a visit from some White Mages and we were more than fine. Namine included." The weight of the world left Roxas's shoulders, as he breathed a heavy sigh.

"Wait ,just Namine?" Came Ven. Now, it was his and Terra's turn to look worried. "What about Aqua? And Kairi?"

"They were the ones who took the brunt of the damage. They fought tooth and nail all the way through, but their injuries were..."

Sora tried to swallow, but it felt like the lump in his throat would choke him if he did so. Please, please by okay Kairi. Everything began to flash in Sora's mind. Kairi's fears on departure day. Her calling him in the middle of the night about her nightmare and her concerns and fears.

It was all too much to take, as Sora fell back down into the captain's chair of the cockpit.

"They are still alive, though. They are unconscious and in the ICU at the moment, but they're okay... for now."

"For now?" Sora croaked, voice thick with emotion.

"It's still touch-and-go Sora." Leon soothed. Well, soothed as best a gruff someone like himself could. "The doctors are confident they'll be fine, but..." Leon's eyes darted across what as surely his own display back on his end. Darting between Sora and Ven and Terra and everyone else. "I have faith that they'll be okay. And I'll contact you the moment we get any further information regarding their recovery."

No one seemed happy with that answer. Ven slouched down, a sullen expression his face, while Terra turned away from the camera to grumble and cursed under his breath. Sora shut his eyes and brought a hand to his forehead. At that moment, he felt a pair of hands come into contact with him; Donald and Goofy both offering a supportive touch to either of his shoulders.

"Thanks, guys..."

"In any case, we still have a few things to deal with." Mickey said, trying to steer everyone's minds off of the fate of their two friends. Most likely his, as well. "Even with Chaos gone, the Heartless are still acting up on a few worlds. We should aim to take care of them, and I'm sure by then, Kairi and Aqua will be awake and on the mend."

The Mouse King's words were hopeful and cheery, trying to buoy the spirits of the collective Key Bearers, but they seemed to do very little. Still, everyone gave a general motion of agreement that that was the best plan of action. Go back to work and try and get their minds off of things. It's not like any of them could do anything to help Kairi or Aqua...

Sora looked down and pulled Kairi's lucky charm from the pocket of his shorts.

I can do something, though. I can come back to her like I promised. Like we promised. To always return, safe and sound. I can show here that I'm okay and then... and then...

Well, Sora wasn't really sure "and then" what. But, he was still certain he had to go and be with Kairi.

"Guys, can you take care of my share? I'm going straight to Radiant Garden." Sora declared, earning some surprised responses from the others.

"What!?" Donald shrieked. "Sora, we can't just abandon the mission!"

"Well, why not? This is Kairi! She's way more important than a couple of Heartless."

"That doesn't matter! Besides, there's nothing any of us can do to help her. You'd just be in the way."

Sora flinched. "Well, I..." He trailed off in search of a counter, but none came to mind. He just knew he had to go to Kairi, right here and now, but couldn't verbalize it properly.

Fortunately, Sora had some good friends.

"I say go for it, Sora." Came Riku. Sora's eyes met with those of his longtime friend, who gave him an approving nod. "The rest of us can mop up whatever is left. You can go run off to your girlfriend, just like you always do."

Roxas echoed the sentiment. "Riku's right. We don't need all of us on this, and I bet it will do everyone – Kairi and Aqua and everyone else – a world of good to see you. Just make sure to say 'hi' to Namine for me."

"Go on ahead Sora, the rest of us will be right behind you." Terra said, the elder warrior granting his blessing as well.

"You guys..." Sora was at a loss for words. He silently thanked the heavens above for blessing him with such supportive loved ones.

Mickey too, smiled and nodded. "Well, I guess that settles that. We'll do our best to finish off the remaining Heartless, and then all rendezvous back on Radiant Garden. Sound good, everyone?"

A chorus of replies came from all participants, as the conference call came to an end, everyone going t work on their respective tasks. Sora quickly typed the coordinates for the Garden in the Highwind's nav-computer (the only type of computer Sora could actually use), his mind and heart set on only one thing.

Don't worry, Kairi. I'll be there shortly. We'll be back together, just like we promised.

(~S/K~)

In Sora's haste to be at Kairi's side, he hadn't considered the reality of situation. A reality he soon found himself colliding with.

Even with the warp function of the Highwind causing them to hurtle across space at near-impossible speed, it was already evening by the time the Key Bearers had their conference call. It was even later in the evening when Sora touched down. Hospital visiting hours were over, and had been for some time. And, no, the hospital staff wouldn't let Sora in just this once. Rules were rules, even for the Keyblade Master.

So, Sora had to spend all night stewing in his own worry and nerves. Sleep came, but not easily, as he tossed and turned all night, cycling between periods of wakefulness and rest. His mind flickered between moments of hope and fear, but he tried his best to temper his expectations, both the good and the bad.

Eventually, after what seemed like an eternity, morning finally came. For one of the few times in his life, Sora was up and at it near first light. Not that he had much of a choice. He was in a period of waking when the dawn broke.

Better get to it now than put it off any longer

Sora made himself a quick breakfast for himself – eggs and some fresh fruit – before heading out for the day. However, he made a quick stop by Aerith's flower shop to pick up a bouquet of flowers – red Gardenian carnations, a shade almost as dark and deep as Kairi's hair. It just seemed appropriate to the situation.

With that settled, he couldn't get to Kairi's side fast enough, only really ever stopping when arrived at the hospital, and that was just so he could get directions from the reception desk.

All the while, his mind raced and buzzed about.

She's okay, right? Her and Aqua. They have to be. Everyone knows who I am. If there was a problem, someone would have told me, the moment I stepped foot in here. Yeah. Yeah. Gotta be the case. Kairi will be up and at it, the moment I get. Bright and sunny and beautiful. Yeah.

Everything will be okay!

Sora strode into Kairi's hospital room, a full, cheery smile on his face, fully expecting to be greeted by a joyful and surprised Kairi.

Instead, he found the girl laid up on a hospital bed. Dressed up in a standard hospital gown, with her body heavily bandaged up (Sora could see through the gown she had both her arms, her head, and a portion of her chest gauzed up). Both an IV and a heartrate monitor were hooked up to her, and her left leg was bound in a cast, held up by a sling suspended from the ceiling.

Kairi was completely unconscious and unmoving.

Sora' heart broke to see her in that state.

Oh no... oh no oh no oh no!

The bouquet of flowers fell from his hand, as Sora rushed over to Kairi's bedside, tears freely falling from his eyes.

"Oh, Kairi... Kairi!" Sora fell to his knees and buried his face into her stomach. Even if a part of him knew that, yes, Kairi was okay for now, she wasn't in any immediate life threatening danger... this was still too much for him to take. She had fought before. She had loss before. She had been injured before. But never this badly. Never to this state. Hell, Sora couldn't think of a time any of his friends were hospitalized in such a manner before. "I'm so sorry, Kai. I'm so sorry. I should have taken your worries more seriously. I should have... I should been there and..."

Sora rambled on until he broke down into unintelligible, inconsolable sobs.

Something reach out and touched Sora's head. It felt like a hand, running it's fingers through the spikes of his hair.

"Hey there, handsome..."

Sora stopped, lifting his head from Kairi's body, looking up through tear-filled eyes.

Kairi had reached down, running a hand through his hair, eyes barely open, and wearing a weary smile on her face. "Why're you crying, Sora...?"

"Kairi!" Sora lunged up and hugged onto his girlfriend, hugging onto her for dear life. Hugging her probably a bit too hard, considering the condition of her body. But, he could worry about that later. "You're okay, you're okay..." Sora mumbled, after releasing the grip of his hug just slightly.

"Yeah, but... I'm sorry, Sora. I'm really sorry..."

"What?" Sora pulled back, looking confused. "What are you sorry about, Kai?"

With a slight tilt of her head, Kairi gestured to the small stand next to her bed. There was an object sitting atop the stand.

The chain was broken, a couple of links were missing. It had also clearly been struck by lightning or fire or something, as the metal was tarnished, the crown pendant partly melted and warped. But, it was still unmistakably (what was left of) Sora's crown pendant.

"It broke in the fight with Chaos... I did everything I could to make sure I didn't lose it. But... it's broken. Your necklace. I'm sorry Sora..."

A goofy grin broke on Sora's face. That's what she was worried about? She was laid up with a broken leg and it was the necklace that concerned her?

Oh, Kairi... Sometimes, you're just too selfless and caring.

"It's okay, Kai. It did it's job. It brought you back to home. Back to me. Safe and sound. Just like you promised."

"Just like I promised..."

(~S/K~)

A couple of days later, Kairi was discharged from the hospital. Aqua would be cleared a few days after, too. And the remaining nests of Heartless had been eliminated by Riku and the others.

Everything had come to an end. Things would go back to normal, again.

In her wheelchair, Sora pushed Kairi out of the front of the hospital, back to the outside world. Her leg was still healing, even White Magic had it's limits, so she would be partly immobile for another week or so.

Sora had already offered that until then, he would help ferry her everywhere she'd want to go. No questions asked.

And speaking thereof...

"Hey, sweetie. I'm sort of hungry. Starving, really. Think we could go get something to eat?" Kairi asked, sweetly, as she and Sora lazily wound their way around the hospital grounds, on their way to a main thoroughfare in the city.

"Absolutely, Kai. What would you like to do? Do you wanna go out, or should I make you something?" Sora asked back, bringing their progress to a halt, parking Kairi's chair in the middle of a fourway intersection on the grounds. It was a really lovely sight, too. A big fountain display dominated the center of the crossway, with multiple growths of summer wildflowers in full bloom. A dazzling display of vivid reds, yellows, pinks, and blues.

The perfect spot. Sora thought, as he moved from behind Kairi to face him.

"Let's just go out somewhere." Kairi decided. "I don't wanna bother you, and besides, where would you go to cook here?"

Sora shrugged. "I dunno. Go and ask Tifa or Aerith if I could borrow their kitchens? They'd be okay with that."

"No, no. No more asking for favours. Everyone here did enough already, helping fight Chaos. Let's just go back to the city and find a nice place to have lunch." Kairi said, Sora smiling along with her orders.

"Whatever you want, Kai." He then leaned in and whispered with a teasing smile. "Whatever our heroine wants..."

Kairi scrunched up her nose and blushed. "Stop that. I just... if I didn't have Aqua and Nam and everyone, I would have been toast..."

"But I thought you loved it when I praised you?"

"I do! But... I also hate it. But... Sora! Now you got me all confused!"

"Then I'm doing my job!"

The two shared a moment of laughter, happy that they could share something as silly and simple as that. Especially considering the fright and panic from a few days ago. But, after the laughter passed, Sora just stalled and stood about, Kairi looking at him expectantly. Her stomach growling at him, also expectantly. They had been promised lunch.

"Sora... shouldn't we get going?"

"Well, yeah, but..." Sora nervously shifted about on his feet. He was pawing at something in his pocket. "There's something I've been thinking about the past couple of days. Going back and forth on yes and no. But... um..." Kairi craned her head at her boyfriend, trying to puzzle out what he was going on about. "You know what? Screw it! I'm going for it."

"Going for-"

Kairi's words caught in her throat, when Sora fell to one knee before her, fishing something from his pockets.

A small jewelry box, which he opened to reveal a small silver-banded ring, crowned with a rose-pink diamond shaped like a star.

"Kairi... will you marry me?"

"What he hell!?"

That was not the reaction Sora was expecting.

That was also not the person Sora thought would be reacting.

Riku's voice cut out through the air, catching both Sora and Kairi off-guard.

"What? Wha...?"

Sora stood up and turned about to find Riku, Roxas, and Namine crossing through the intersection, heading towards their location from the city.

"Oh my gosh! Yes!" Namine beamed, jubilantly, running up at full speed. She quickly swooped in on her sister and covered her in a loving embrace. "I'm so happy for you guys!"

"I'm actually surprised you worked up the nerve to ask." Riku stated, as he and Roxas joined the party.

"You and me both!" Came Donald's voice. Sora turned again, to find the duck wizard, along with Goofy and King Mickey, coming up the path from their left.

"I guess the trip to Agrabah inspired something in him." Now, Aqua was the one speaking. Coming from behind Sora and Kairi, came Aqua – hobbling on crutches – along with Terra and Ventus.

"What? What?" Sora was beyond confused. "What are you guys all doing here?" All of them, gathered in one spot. At this moment. What were the odds?

"Well, we decided that since Kairi's got let out today, we would meet up with you two and treat you to lunch." Roxas explained.

"And we were about to depart back to Disney Castle, but we wanted to say our goodbyes before we left." Said Mickey.

Next, Ven said, "We were just taking a walk around the grounds with Aqua, when we saw you guys. Figured we would try and catch up, as well."

"And the we heard Sora pop the question." Terra jumped in, casting a critical eye at the two teens. "Are you two sure about this? You're not even eighteen yet."

"Well, we can make a date for it later if we want. Much later." Sora countered, a little peeved.

"Oh, don't mind him, Sora." Aqua said, with a dismissive wave of her hand. "You two do whatever you want, and we'll all be happy for you."

Namine shook her head in protest. "Yeah! They should have it as soon as possible. Now that I know it's happening, I want it! I want my sister to be happy!"

"Uh... guys, excuse me? I haven't given my answer, yet."

Kairi spoke up, cutting through the clamour of her collective friends. Sora blinked in confusion, then again in understanding.

Yeah, that's right. Kairi barely had time to react before everyone showed up.

"So, Kai... Um... offer still stands...?"

Kairi smiled at the cheesy, awkward, but incredibly earnest line, and then, surprisingly, started to rise out of her wheelchair.

"Remember when my mom stopped by yesterday? Again, thanks for ferrying her here, Rox and Nam... well, anyways, I asked her to bring me something."

Kairi said all this as she rose up, balancing on one leg, before slowly sinking down to kneel on her bum leg, wincing while she did. Now, she was kneeling before Sora, just as he had done previously.

Everyone watched with bated breath. Aqua looked on proudly at her charged. Namine let out a low squeal of joy, that was slowly rising in volume and intensity. Both Riku and Roxas expressed their happiness a bit more subtly, but it was there all the same.

Sora blushed, but smiled. He knew what was coming.

From her pockets, Kairi withdraw a golden ring, with a pair of jewels centered in the ban. Sky blue and fire red.

Kairi offered the ring towards Sora.

"Sora... will you marry me?"

(~S/K~)

It was over a year after the proposal that Sora and Kairi tied the knot. Just little while after Sora's eighteenth birthday.

The loving couple ended up hosting two different weddings. The first, an excessively large and extravagant affair on the Radiant Garden, with just about every single last one of their companions, allies, and friends from across the stars invited to bear witness to the most joyous occasion. The second wedding, held a week after, was much more private affair, held on the beachfront just behind Sora's childhood home, with only their closest friends and family members in attendance.

Both events had there moments and memories, days neither Sora or Kairi would every forget, so long as they lived.

Less than a year after Sora and Kairi got hitched, just before Namine's nineteenth birthday, she and Roxas also decided to take the plunge. Their (one) wedding was somewhere in between the two of their siblings, but no less merry and jubilant.

And even Riku – seemingly the eternal bachelor – eventually found a love to call his own, having crossed paths with the duo of Fang Yun and Vanille Dia. Sure, no one had expected Riku to end up in a poly-amorous relationship, and it initially came off as a bit of a surprise, but he was happy, both his partners were happy, and everyone was happy for them. That's really all that mattered in the end.

After so much struggling and fighting, the five friends who had been through so much in such a short amount of time, were able to find peace and happiness at last. They were all able to grow up together, as tightly-knit a family as one would ever find, go off and branch off into new horizons, new careers, and grow their families ever more.

Ten Years After Sora and Kairi's Marriage

Sora knocked on the door to the charming little bungalow house in the northern corridor of the Radiant Garden. A more difficult task than one would think, given that he was carrying a bunch of luggage in his left hand, while balancing the rambunctious form of his son, Taiyo, on his shoulders.

The moment the echoes of Sora's knocked died, a voice called out from the other side of the threshold. "Mommy! Daddy! Uncle Sora and Aunt Kairi are here!"

In an excited manner, a young girl holding onto Kairi's hands rapped on the door as well. "Hi Emmie!" Cheered Tsuki, Taiyo's twin sister, calling out to her cousin beyond the door.

"Hi Tsuki! Are you excited for the week!"

"Yeah! Yeah!"

"Emma, don't talk to someone through the door, it's rude." Came Roxas's voice, also from beyond the threshold. "Just let them in, swiss miss, you don't need to wait for us."

It was the week of Sora and Kairi's tenth wedding anniversary, and both had planned a gauntlet of events and gifts for their partner to enjoy. And, in order to facilitate the week, Roxas and Namine had graciously agreed to watch their kids for the time being.

The door to the homestead opened, revealing both Roxas and a small blonde-haired girl with bright blue eyes, dressed in cream white sundress, carrying with her a small Moogle plushy. Immediately, Tsuki tore away from her mother's hand and went to hug her cousin. Emma was two years older than either of her cousins, and was deeply idolized and adored by both of them, as a result. When you were five, seven seemed like a it was a world a way.

"Jeez, Sora, you got enough stuff there?" Roxas joked with a shake of his head. "That's my brother, always shouldering too much at once. Here..." The blond reached over and plucked Taiyo from atop Sora's shoulder, heaving him into the air. "Oh wow, Tai, you're getting so big. Soon you'll be just like your dad and fighting off the monsters, right?"

Taiyo laughed uproariously as he was bounced in the air by his uncle "Yep! I'll be super strong and protect Tsuki and Emmie and Axel. Hiryu and Milla, too!"

"Thanks again for doing this, Roxas." Kairi offered, as she and Sora passed on all the luggage they had brought for their children. From behind Roxas, Namine stepped forward, carrying with her their newborn son, Axel.

"It's no problem, Kairi." Namine said, with a slight incline of their head. "We're all family after all."

"Plus, it gives us leverage for next year." Roxas quirked his eyebrows at his wife, and then shot a look towards his brother. "Our ten-year is coming up next, so you're gonna have to repay the favour." Sora chuckled and smiled back.

"Would be more than happy to, Roxas."

"Alright, I hate to split and run, but we're behind schedule." Kairi leaned down to be at level with her children. "You two will behave yourself, right?"

Both siblings gave her an earnest nod and a bright grin.

"We'll be on our bestest behavious, mama!" Said Tsuki.

"And we'll do whatever Uncle Rox and Auntie Nam say, too." Agreed Taiyo. Kairi beamed back at her two children.

"Good! Now, give mama a kiss goodbye." Kairi leaned in, letting the two twins peck her on each cheek. Sora crouched down two, giving both them, as well as Emma, a hug and kiss on the crown of their heads.

"See you in a week, you two!"

"Make sure you enjoy yourselves!"

After another five minutes of goodbyes and well-wishes, Sora and Kairi made their way back to the Highwind Mk. II (though Sora noted that the ship was starting to get a bit long in the tooth, nowadays), off to wherever their hearts desired.

"So, where to first, sweetie?" Kairi asked, walking hand-in-hand with her beloved husband. "We drew straws, and you got first up, and you know I'll bring my a-game tomorrow."

"Oh, you'll see, Kai." Sora smirked, triumphantly. For their first night, Sora had booked the entirety of Tiana's new ballroom to themselves, the perfect venue for a candlelit dinner. Sora swung up both their hands together, laying a kiss on Kairi's knuckles. "Happy ten years, Kairi."

"Happy ten years, Sora. To the best man everywhere. And to another ten more!"

"To another hundred more!" Sora said, causing Kairi to break out in giggles. "What?"

"You really think we'll live to be a hundred-and-twenty-eight?"

"I dunno. Maybe. All that matters is if you're by my side. Then we can grow to be fifty or a hundred or six-hundred-and-fifty!" Sora threw back his head and beamed, while Kairi leaned in, resting her head against his chest. "If I got you and Rox and Nam, Riku, the kids... that's all I need in my life. I'll be happy.

"I love you, Kairi."

"And I love you, Sora."


And there we have it! Happy SoKai week everyone! I hope everyone has enjoyed it, as much as I enjoyed writing these stories.

And hey, while I'm here, and while you're here, why not let these stories serve as a gateway to my larger body of works. I write plenty of Kingdom Hearts stories – from cute fluff to absurd comedy to epic adventurer – and I'm always aiming to post more and become better.

Regardless, take care of yourself everyone, and until we meet again!