A/N: I must start by thanking ParadiseAvenger; I used a quote from one of her previous reviews in this chapter. As I was typing it, I was just like "wow, that would fit perfectly!" Thanks for the inspiration!
"So, what's the situation?" Sora asked as he stepped from the porthole.
In the center of the common area of the Gummi Ship sat a round metal table with three chairs pulled up to it. In the middle of the table there sat an ornate-looking tea set, three cups sitting neatly around it, pouring wispy trails of steam into the air, and filling the room with an herbal scent. Cloud sat in one of the chairs, leaning back and slouching a bit, taking a sip of his tea. Exsul sat in the opposite chair, arms folded and head down, making Sora wonder if he was asleep or just lost in thought.
"King Mickey wants us to report back to him immediately." Cloud said flatly, setting his cup down neatly on the saucer.
"Great…" Sora said as he flopped down in his chair. "Hopefully he has some news for us."
"Let us hope so." Exsul agreed, picking up his cup and swirling it gently before taking a drink. "The sooner we find Sephiroth, the better."
Cloud looked over to Sora as he picked up the cup of tea in front of him. Something in his eyes didn't seem quite right, and even the way he decided to dress seemed a little…off (at least to Cloud; Exsul surprisingly seemed to like Sora's new look).
"Sora?" Cloud said, sounding somewhat concerned.
"Mmm?" Sora said, muffled as he sipped tea from the cup.
"Everything okay?"
"Sure. Why wouldn't it be? Like Exsul said, the sooner we find Sephiroth, the better."
Cloud let out a sigh, closing his eyes for a moment before continuing.
"Sora, look…I know you have this whole idea of revenge on your mind, but we need to be sensible about this."
"Sensible?" Sora said with an almost laugh. "Were you sensible the night he destroyed your home?"
"Not exactly, but…"
"How about when he killed your mother?"
"Sora…" Exsul interjected. "That's enough."
Sora hung his head a bit.
"Look, Cloud, I'm sorry. It's just…"
"He took everything from you, and you want revenge." Cloud cut him off with a raised hand. "You have nothing to apologize for, Sora. You're right; I was no different from you the night he took everything from me. But believe me when I say that if you attack Sephiroth out of blind rage, you'll just end up dead in the end."
"Then…what would you suggest?" Sora asked.
"You want your shot at Sephiroth, that's fine…but we work as a team. Understood?"
Sora nodded. He understood all too well; he had tried to do things alone before, without his team, and it almost ended in disaster. Cloud was far more experienced at dealing with Sephiroth than Sora was, that was certain; Sora would listen to Cloud's guidance and try to glean as much information as he could from him, and Cloud would give it willingly. All Sora knew beyond a shadow of a doubt was this; if and when it came down to ending Sephiroth's life, Sora would be the one to do it.
…..
From the outside, Yuffie's house looked like any other cookie-cutter design that lined the street; single story, eggshell colored siding, plain-looking shingles, and dark green trim. The inside, however, was a credit to not only her tastes, but to her skills as a designer. Stunning Japanese-style tapestries and antique samurai swords decorated the walls, tall bamboo plants accented the wicker furniture, and dim lighting made everything stand out beautifully. It was a close as she could get to making it look and feel like her childhood home in her native Wutai without the landlord she rented the house from pitching too much of a fit. The air was musky but not overpowering; she had always had some sort of incense or candles burning. It was her own private sanctuary; probably why Kairi was so surprised that Yuffie had allowed her to stay with her after Sephiroth's attack had burned her childhood home to the ground. She couldn't stay with Tidus and Wakka, that was pretty much a given. Selphie had offered her a place to stay, which Kairi respectfully declined; the bright yellows and almost antiseptic odor of the place usually gave her a headache every time she spent more than a few hours there. Riku's apartment simply brought back too many painful memories; aside from the fact that it was Riku's, the fires had damaged much of the building and a lot of the contents had been ruined by water damage. All she knew is that she didn't want to be alone, and Yuffie was all too happy to come to the rescue of her dear friend.
Yuffie opened the door a bit roughly; it usually stuck, especially when the days were warm. Ushering Kairi in gently, Yuffie set her keys down on the small table near the door with a suppressed rattle. Kairi walked in slowly, almost dragging her feet behind her, and flopped down into one of the papasan chairs in the living room. Yuffie let out somewhat of a sigh as she watched her; she was so dead set on not going to see Sora off, yet made such an effort to try and reach him before he left. She realized just how much emotional turmoil Kairi had been through lately; first Riku's death, then her misplaced outrage at Sora, and now…he was gone again, and for all Kairi knew, thought that she hated him. Kairi had felt like she didn't have anyone, and was starting to blame herself for it. Yuffie knelt down in front of her, gingerly placing a hand on her knee.
"Can I get you anything?" Yuffie asked, her voice somewhat motherly.
"Maybe some water?" Kairi answered.
Yuffie nodded, walking to the kitchen and fishing a bottle of water out of the fridge. Bringing it back out to her, she handed it to Kairi and took a seat in the chair next to her.
"Thanks…" Kairi said, grabbing it from her weakly and twisting open the bottle to take a drink.
Yuffie wasn't sure quite where to start, but at the same time, subtlety was never her forte.
"So…what was that all about? I didn't think you were coming…" Yuffie asked bluntly without trying to be too prying.
"I don't know…" Kairi said, dipping her head a bit. "I didn't want to go, but at the same time…I didn't want to see Sora leave again, especially after what he said at the funeral…"
"About not coming back?" Yuffie asked. "Can you really blame him?"
"I know he wants to stop the guy who killed Riku…I get it…I just don't see why he would say something so…selfish."
Yuffie's eyes widened for a moment, and then she let out a sharp sigh, shaking her head.
"Selfish? Are you listening to yourself right now?" Yuffie asked, seeming a bit annoyed with her.
"Well, what would you call it?"
"I thought it was brave of him. It showed he wasn't scared of what lay ahead."
Kairi rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, real brave to leave home when people need you the most. I swear, Yuffie, that boyfriend of yours is a real jerk sometimes…"
Yuffie had had enough; Sora was her friend…he didn't deserve this. It was time for her to be brutally honest with Kairi.
"And just what the hell would you call yourself?" Yuffie asked sharply.
"Wh…what?" Kairi's voice became quiet, a look of shock crossing her face as Yuffie's words made her head snap up.
"Kairi, I love you to death…you're like a sister to me…but you need to wake the hell up! Do you remember the things you said to Sora the night Riku died?"
"Well…yeah…but…" Kairi choked out, her voice quivering with a touch of fear.
"Who the hell would want to stick around after that? The fact that Sephiroth just happened to kill the one person in the world that Sora thought of as a brother doesn't seem to register with you, either. It's all about how you feel, right?"
"No…"
"Really? You blamed Sora for everything! You blamed him for Riku's death, told him it was a mistake for him to have come home after being gone all those years…you even told him you wished he was dead! The same guy that went through hell to get back home to you! And what did he find when he got here, Kairi? He saw you and Riku ready to get married! 'Oh, well Sora's probably dead by now, let's get married, he'd want that for us'. Seriously, Kairi, what the fuck?"
"But…it wasn't like that…"
"I know that, Kairi…I know Riku was there for you and offered you comfort and you two got close…I get that. But for once could you think about this from Sora's point of view? Do you have any idea how broken hearted he was? How betrayed he felt? And then you set him up on a date with me! Next time, kick him in the balls…it probably would have hurt less."
"I thought…you and Sora…"
Yuffie took a deep breath, trying to calm down. Kairi looked to be on the verge of tears, which made Yuffie feel bad enough, but this needed to be said, no matter the amount of tears that were spilled because of it.
"Kairi, you really have absolutely no idea, do you?"
"What…?"
"Yes, you know what, I do love Sora…he one of the greatest guys I've ever met and if it weren't for you, the two of us wouldn't have become such close friends…but that's all we are Kairi; friends. I love him…but, not in that way."
Yuffie took another deep breath; what she was about to say was something Sora made her promise not to tell Kairi, but she needed to hear this…and Yuffie just hoped that Sora would understand and be able to forgive her for it.
"The only time that Sora has ever looked at me with love in his eyes…deep, passionate, unconditional love…was the day we first met in Traverse Town…when he thought that I was you."
Kairi's eyes went wide with shock.
"What?" Kairi asked, her voice absolutely stunned.
"You honestly mean to tell me that you've never seen it? Never even realized it?"
Kairi's open mouth unable to speak was all the answer Yuffie needed.
"Sora is in love with you, Kairi…completely and utterly in love with you. He has been since the two of you were kids!"
"Sora…loves me?"
"Yes, Kairi; Sora loves you." Yuffie's voice was starting to become calm and soothing again
She walked over to Kairi, kneeling beside her, placing her hand on her shoulder.
"He always has." Yuffie added.
Kairi hung her head, closing her eyes and taking a shuddered breath. How could she not have seen it before…said those things to him? Kairi felt absolutely horrible, and although Yuffie would have never intentionally hurt Kairi, part of her didn't regret how she felt right now.
"Riku and I…" Kairi started. "There was always such compassion there…such comfort. He never pressured me into anything; we were going to wait…until after we got married."
Yuffie just sat and listened, listening to her friend's confession.
"I think he knew…he knew one day, Sora would return. Whenever we kissed…I mean, it was comforting, but…that was it. I loved Riku, I truly did…but…my heart…always ached for Sora…always wanted him to come home to me."
Yuffie understood all too well; it was the same way when she had kissed Sora. To say it meant nothing would be a lie, but it wasn't the kind of kiss that set your heart on fire. That's how Yuffie knew that her feelings for Sora would never be more than a treasured friendship.
"And when Sora kissed you all those years ago? What did you feel then?" Yuffie asked.
For a moment, Kairi just sat and thought about that kiss…that brief moment that had been shared between the two of them.
"I felt…alive." Kairi admitted. "I felt like I was floating on air…like he was breathing fire into me…I felt…"
"Like nothing else mattered?" Yuffie almost answered for her.
Kairi smiled sadly and nodded.
"He's been thinking of that kiss every day for the last three years…" Yuffie revealed. "It's all he ever thinks about…whenever he sees you."
Tears spilled freely from Kairi's eyes, a few drops here and there. Yuffie wrapped her arms around her in a hug, and that's when the floodgates opened and Kairi began to cry freely.
"Oh God, Yuffie…" she said through broken sobs. "What have I done?"
…..
The apprehension in the air was palpable as Sora, Cloud, and Exsul walked down the long burgundy carpet towards King Mickey's throne room. They knew he wasn't exactly happy with the way they had left before, but that mattered little now. Something had to be done about Sephiroth, and it needed to be done now. He stood from his throne as they approached, hands clasped behind his back, his face looking solemn. The Trinity bowed before him respectfully as they approached.
"I'm glad to see that you're all safe." King Mickey said, almost without emotion.
"We lost Riku…" Sora explained sadly. "And Sephiroth got away."
"I see." King Mickey said, turning to his side. "We've been tracking him…it wasn't easy; we've lost many scouts because of it."
"So you've found him?" Cloud asked hopefully. "Where is he?"
"I've given the coordinates to Cid. He should be able to guide you there." Mickey explained, something missing from his usual tone.
"Something troubles you, Majesty." Exsul said, more of a statement than a question.
"Sora…" Mickey started. "I want you to stay behind."
"What?" Sora exploded. "You have got to be kidding!"
"You are too deeply involved…too emotionally connected to this matter to go on this mission." The King explained. "Cloud and Exsul will be able to handle Sephiroth."
The three of them looked at each other in disbelief.
"Majesty, with all due respect," Cloud interjected. "We cannot do this without Sora."
"I understand your feelings on this, Cloud, and the only reason you are still here is because your thoughts on the matter of Sephiroth are clear. The Keybearer is a symbol of justice and peace for this kingdom, not revenge."
"That's a load of crap!" Sora exclaimed. "Riku was your friend, too! Everything he and I have done for you over the years and this is how you honor his memory?"
"And what do you suppose Riku would do in your position, Sora? Fly blindly into battle seeking vengeance?" Mickey retorted, cutting him a sideways glance.
"It's questions like that that make me realize that you knew nothing about Riku, and you know nothing of me for that matter." Sora retorted. "I'm going after Sephiroth; with or without the Keyblade, and with or without your consent!"
King Mickey's eyes widened, although he tried to hide it; he had never heard the Keybearer talk like this before. There was a determination…a confidence in his voice that he'd never heard.
"For years I have served you…and what have I ever asked of you in return?" Sora asked, his voice growing steadily more annoyed. "Because of your quests, all of your damned missions; I've missed out on my life…and it's all been in the name of the proud King Mickey. What have you ever done for me, Highness?"
Cloud had never heard this side to Sora before, either, but nonetheless smirked to himself; Sora reminded Cloud of himself.
"I'm going to find Sephiroth, end of discussion. And if you don't like it, Mickey, then with all due respect…" Sora turned on his heel, walking away from the condescending King. "You can go fuck yourself."
King Mickey and Exsul's jaws all but his the floor. Cloud, on the other hand, laughed and shook his head. Mickey looked at him in disbelief; Cloud responded by leaning back on his heel and placing his hand on his hip in a cocky pose.
"Hey, he's the Keybearer. You want this taken care of or not?" Cloud asked, turning on his heel and walking after Sora. "Coming, Exsul?"
"Right behind you." Exsul answered, turning to look at the shocked King Mickey. "He's right, you know. Everything he has done for this kingdom, all of the justice he's delivered…I think you can allow him one solitary act of vengeance."
With that, Exsul quietly followed them. King Mickey stood silently for a moment before letting out a small chuckle, shaking his head.
"Looks like our Sora's all grown up…" Mickey said to himself.