Hiya everyone!
Sorry this one's late! I was SUPER busy last week, and literally had no time to do anything for 6 days straight... Fun times!
I've added a section to my profile now so I can let you guys know how the next chapter is progressing. If it's been a while, check there to see the status of it! :)
I'm also heading out for a semester abroad soon through my university, so super excited for that! That does mean though that releases will likely be delayed for a while while I adjust to new surroundings in a new country! Just FYI!
I was TRYING to get through all of the KH 1.5/2.5 ReMiX and 2.8 before I went, but alas that doesn't seem to have happened... I beat KH2 Final Mix the other day, but haven't started BBS yet, so... that's likely not going to happen... Still excited for KH3 in January though! I'll just have to remember the rest of the storyline from when the original games came out!
Anyways, enjoy!
Chapter 6 - Escape
Having sat up on the beach, Kairi looked up at Sora and the girl she didn't know confused. She sat there for a moment with her legs out in front of her, contemplating what to say, but nothing else would come to mind. Was her memory faulty, or was his? The memories had come in clear, and she knew they were right. She remembered everything about their time together, as if it was a memory she'd long forgotten, that had now come back into focus.
"Are you alright?" said Sora, looking down at her with the same concern he would give anyone. There was no sign that he had any idea of who she was.
Kairi looked at him incredulously, unsure exactly of what to say.
"Sora, don't you remember me…?" she said. "I'm Kairi."
Sora once again glanced at Naminé, who just shook her head, before focusing back on Kairi. Standing up straight and scratching his head slightly, he looked at her without recognition.
"I… I don't know…" he finally said. "I don't think so…"
His gaze showed that he wanted to help her, but was coming up blank. He almost looked remorseful. Kairi looked down at the sand. After everything she had been through to get here, he didn't remember her. How could that be? Had they messed with his memories the same way they had everyone else's? Did Riku even remember her? She had so many questions, and no answers. Where could she possibly begin?
"Well…" began Sora, slightly sheepishly as he placed his hands behind his head and leaned back. "Since you're here, you can always hang out with us!" He gave his usual contagious smile, the same one that she always remembered him having. "It's alright! We'll figure it out! There's always a way!"
Kairi couldn't help but look up and smile back as she came up to a standing position in front of him. He stood there continuing to smile widely at her, and began teetering from side to side. Same old Sora. That was definitely something she would never forget about him. He was always positive, no matter what the situation. Even when he had released his heart to save her, he smiled right until the last moment before becoming a Heartless. She turned to look at the girl beside him.
"And… you are?" she asked.
Sora looked over at Naminé, and almost immediately went red with embarrassment. He had completely forgotten to introduce the two of them.
"Oh!" he stammered. "This is Naminé!"
Naminé stepped forward, reaching her hand out toward Kairi tentatively. She smiled kindly, and tilted her head slightly.
"It's nice to meet you, Kairi." she said.
Kairi likewise reached her out hand out to shake Naminé's, their hands interlocking in a gentle embrace. But this wasn't any normal handshake. The second the two of them touched, each felt a warm sensation flow through them, but neither knew what to make of it. They simply shook hands, and then let go, both looking at each other for an answer, but neither having it. Sora broke the silence after a moment, his excitement overtaking everything.
"Alright! What should we do first?" he said. "There's the creepy old cave, the lookout, the palm tree… so many things to show you! Where do you want to begin?"
He looked as carefree as ever, considering the situation. Nothing ever dampened his spirit. Always making the best of any predicament. Kairi watched him happily as he looked excitedly around the island for the best place to go first, a finger to his chin in contemplation.
"Ok, you choose," she said kindly, trying to smile. "This is your island."
As Sora began to count all the places he wanted to show her on his fingers, Kairi looked back over at Naminé for a moment, noticing something slightly different about her. Her smile had faded, and Kairi saw a flicker of doubt across her features, but only for a moment. Once she noticed her watching, the same smile returned, and she looked at her innocently. Kairi's expression returned to one of determination. She knew something wasn't right in this place, and that was all she needed to confirm it.
Grabbing Naminé by the upper arm, she walked her a short distance away from Sora, who was still focused on his plans. Naminé didn't fight at all, only stumbling along the beach as Kairi dragged her with a surprised look on her face. Once they stopped, Kairi turned around and looked at her with a serious expression.
"You know something about what's wrong with Sora, don't you?" she asked seriously.
Naminé suddenly became nervous, holding one arm and looking away. She wouldn't make eye contact with Kairi.
"W-what? Nothing's wrong with Sora," she said quietly. "How could you say such a thing…?"
"DiZ has done something to him, hasn't he?" Kairi prodded.
Naminé looked up, slightly surprised for a moment.
"I don't know what you're talking about…" she said. "Sora and I have lived here together for a long time…"
She looked at Kairi as she spoke, but her voice was non-committal, like she had something to hide. Kairi quickly grew frustrated with her, not having the patience to deal with more roadblocks after everything she'd been through already.
"I know something's not right here, Naminé," she said seriously, but calmly. "Why won't you tell me what it is?"
"I don't know…" replied Naminé even quieter. "I just don't…"
That was it. Kairi had had enough. She was normally a calm and collected person, but these were extenuating circumstances.
"Well, if you do anything, then I will!" she said with finality, her voice raising slightly.
Turning back towards where Sora had been, she saw him walking towards them, confusion across his features. As he approached, he looked at the both of them curiously.
"Hey, what were you talking about?" he asked.
Naminé wouldn't look at Kairi, and remained quiet, so Kairi spoke instead.
"It's something we can talk about later," she said, her expression softening as she looked at him. "Are you ready to show me the island?"
"Of course!" said Sora. "C'mon!"
With a motion of his hand, he led Kairi around the island, Naminé in tow as she brought up the rear. They walked up to the palm tree, where Sora explained that himself and Naminé used to sit all the time, and to the dock, where they looked out at the water. They climbed up to the lookout, where Kairi remembered Wakka and Tidus used to play ball, and Sora explained how himself and Naminé used to like to play there as kids. Kairi remained silent through all of this, noting the differences. Everything had been overwritten to include this girl that was with him. Naminé. Who was she?
Their final stop on the tour was the creepy old cave where Sora and herself had drawn pictures of each other on the wall when they were younger. It was a dear memory to her, and was the strongest of the ones that had returned. She could never forget that moment. Innocent childhood, when herself and Sora used to play together all the time, Riku occasionally joining them.
As they entered the cave, she was shocked to find a different image on the wall. It was an image of Naminé inscribed on the cave wall where Kairi should have been, the paopu fruit between her face and Sora's. Kairi couldn't help but stop and shed a tear at the sight of it. Her most powerful memory, overwritten. Everything in this place had been changed to fit the lie that DiZ had created.
Sora turned and looked back at Kairi as he came into the centre of the cave, noticing she had stopped at the entrance, and seeing the tears running down her face. His expression changed to one of concern as he moved to console her, Naminé standing back with a guilty expression.
"Kairi, are you alright?" said Sora. "What's wrong?"
Kairi immediately rubbed the tears from her eyes, feeling embarrassed that she had let them escape in the first place. But she had had such a powerful reaction that she couldn't help it.
"This isn't right," she said quietly. "It's all been… changed. Changed to fit the lie that DiZ has created."
When Sora looked at her confused, she began to explain, trying her best to cover as much as she could with as little time as possible.
"That cave drawing is supposed to be of you and me," she began, her voice normal once again. "You drew a picture of me, and I of you when we were little. You, Riku, and I used to hang out by the palm tree together all the time. We used to play on the beach…"
As Kairi tried to explain the difference to him, Sora suddenly noticed something about the drawings change as he glanced over at them. A flash of memory shone through, and he saw a cave drawing of himself and Kairi instead of Naminé. Then the image faded before his eyes, returning back to the wall displaying himself and Naminé. He shook his head, looking confused for a moment as he stared at the ground, but not before Kairi noticed.
"Sora?" she said hopefully, looking at the back of his head. "You just saw something, didn't you?"
"I… I don't know…" he said, holding his head as he stared down at the ground.
Kairi became desperate. She wasn't going to lose this chance.
"Don't push it away!" she said passionately. "What did you see?"
"I… thought I just saw…" Sora began slowly. "I thought I just saw you and I as kids," He paused for a moment, collecting his thoughts. "But that can't be right… I've only ever lived here with Naminé…"
The memories in his head were fighting with each other. He was having trouble comprehending what his head was telling him.
"That's not true!" said Kairi desperately. "That's what I've been trying to tell you! DiZ has done something to your memories! He's done something to everyone's memories! C'mon, I'll show you."
She grabbed Sora by the arm roughly, pulling him out of the cave, and onto the dock by the beach, leaving him there while she walked out to the edge of it. Picking up a large rock on the way and examining it to ensure it would serve her purpose, she stood at the edge of the water and looked straight out determinedly. Then, with all the force she could muster, she brought her arm behind her head, and then thrust it forward with passion, hurling the rock as far as she could out into the water to prove her point. And it hit its mark.
About halfway through its downward trajectory, the rock bounced off an invisible wall, causing a group of squares to momentarily materialize in place, and then disappear once again. She was right; the entire island was the simulation DiZ had mentioned. It was the prison he was keeping Sora in. Turning back around, she saw a look of astonishment across the boy's face.
"Don't you see?!" she huffed passionately. She was frustrated, and was done with being gentle about things. This was personal. "It's fake! None of this is real. You've been living in a fantasy world while all memory of you has been erased!"
Kairi breathed heavily as she looked at Sora determinedly, her emotions getting the better of her. Sora looked back at her empathetically, diffusing any strong emotions she felt, as she took a deep breath, calming down a bit. Looking down at the wood of the dock, she tried to calm her nerves. Never had anything riled her so much as this. When she looked back up, Sora's expression had changed to one of contemplation. He was deep in thought.
Looking sideways toward Naminé, he then turned back toward Kairi as silence fell for a moment, nothing but the sound of the waves filling their ears. Sora resolved to speak up, putting together the pieces of the puzzle he hadn't had the key to until now. He remembered the flashes of memory, the blocks appearing in the sky… and most all, he remembered her. The flashback he had had that morning of the girl with the red hair standing over him instead of Naminé.; it had been her. The young girl in the cave.; it had been her.
He didn't have all the pieces of his memory, but he had enough. He knew she was Kairi, and he knew about the boy his age that he had sat and laughed with on the edge of the dock.
"It all makes sense…" he said quietly.
Kairi looked at him, her eyes growing wide with hope. Sora's voice became stronger as he continued.
"How could I have been so stupid?!" he continued, chastising himself. "The clues were right there in front of me!"
The image of the boy's face sitting of the edge of the dock flashed before him again, and he looked perplexed. He looked up at Kairi.
"Who is that boy…?" he said finally, looking back up at Kairi after his eyes had adjusted back to the present. "He has silver hair, and wears a yellow shirt, and used to hang out with us all the time…"
Kairi stiffened for a moment, and then sighed sadly. She knew exactly who he was talking about.
"Riku," she said finally. Her voice had calmed, and was quieter than usual. "You, me, and him grew up together as childhood friends. We were inseparable until the darkness invaded our world. You went off to fight it, and save me, while Riku disappeared…" She stared ahead sadly, recounting it all.
Sora then had a flash of memory of Riku in Traverse Town, and then Monstro, holding Pinocchio, and finally at The End of the World, closing the door to darkness. His eyes grew wide, remembering as Riku pulled the door closed with himself on the other side while Sora pushed. He remembered being separated from Kairi shortly after that, but everything else was a blur. He could only remember small details; like Riku taunting him on their various encounters, and memories of being competitive on the island. But it was piecemeal; he didn't have a complete picture. Shaking his head, he looked back up at Kairi determinedly.
"Ok, we need to end this," he said. "I may not remember everything, but I remember enough to know that something's not right in my head. Who needs false memories anyway, right?"
His expression softened, and he smiled while saying the last sentence, lifting the mood. Kairi beamed back at him and smiled, tears almost forming in her eyes, but she held them back. Now wasn't the time. Naminé walked forward, suddenly looking genuinely concerned for their safety. Sora looked at her friendlily, but determinedly.
"You knew, didn't you?" he said.
Naminé looked down slightly before responding. She was ashamed.
"Yes, I did," she began. "You have no idea how powerful DiZ and his people are… I didn't have a choice."
"You're a prisoner here just like me," said Sora. "But I'm not gonna let that go on anymore!" Sora's face had become determined.
"Sora, if we do this, there's no going back," Naminé began slowly, looking him in the eyes. "DiZ will do everything he can to stop us. He's clever; clever enough to trap both you and Riku. And I might…"
"Don't talk like that," Sora interjected, putting his hand on her shoulder, and looking her warmly in the eyes. "We'll all get through this, together."
Kairi smiled, beaming at the both of them, and then looked around for any clue as to how they could escape.
"Alright," she said. "There must be a way somewhere off this island."
"How?" asked Sora, looking toward her.
Kairi looked down at the ground contemplatively. "They seem to use some kind of Corridor to travel from place to place," she began. "That's how I ended up here. I followed one of them through a dark pool, but shortly after arrival, I was knocked unconscious and woke up here. There must be a way in and out of here, or they wouldn't be able to access the area. We just have to find it."
After much searching around the island, the trio finally came across a portal hidden behind some bushes on the far side of the island. It was a purple circle with green hues emanating from it. Kairi examined it closely, and was satisfied that it was likely what they were looking for.
"This is it," she said. "This must be the way to their world."
After a few moments, Kairi walked toward it, motioning for the others to follow. Entering the Corridor, everything around her disappeared, being replaced with new surroundings. She now stood in a room of the same colour scheme as the one she had been in, albeit briefly, before waking up on the island. She walked forward a few paces, hearing Sora and Naminé appear behind her.
The room had tables scattered about, with a single door exiting the off-white coloured room. It was definitely the same place she had been before. The place where they would find answers. Turning back toward Sora and Naminé, she had a serious, but determined look on her face.
"Let's go." she said.
Sora's finally free! And he's getting pieces of his memory back! Yay! Now the real story begins... X)
Hope you enjoyed this one!
Please let me know what you thought in a review!
Until next time! :) (which will hopefully be sooner this time!)
