Chapter XXI:

Sora and Kairi were motionless, sitting wordlessly by each other, staring blankly at each other. Even as the sounds of lively conversations below them reached their ears, the two friends never reacted. They both felt it. This feeling.

It was a feeling that Kairi had held onto for a long time. There was nothing new about it, as something clicked within her long ago. But at the moment, she barely noticed how close she was to Sora. All she felt was the solid beating of her heart. There was no need to even reach out; they were so close.

On the other hand, Sora was conflicted. He did not know how to respond in such a situation. He was not exactly the greatest speaker when it came to personal feelings. Logically speaking, Sora figured if he remained ambiguous, no harm would overcome his friendship with Kairi.

But by just looking at Kairi, her body so close to his own, Sora wanted to curse himself for his lack of answers. Perhaps he should strike up a conversation and see where it could lead.

"Kairi―"

"Sora―"

"Umm…"

"Hmm? Oh―"

"I, uh―"

"Er―it's okay, uh…"

"N-no, go ahead…"

"Well―"

So much for progress, thought Sora.

That went well, Kairi commented to herself. They both turned slightly pink and laughed. At least we can laugh together, at each other, or at ourselves.

"Hey, um… maybe we should go downstairs? It seems like there are other people here…" Kairi suggested uncertainly.

"Yeah," that was all Sora could muster in his reply.

Eventually they will have to talk about their awkward moments. Sora knew that Kairi felt the same awkwardness at times. Kairi knew that Sora was not entirely clueless. It was inevitable. Both of them knew that they were in an uncomfortable stage. The only thing they did not know was how exactly they both feel about one another. Still without ideas, Sora and Kairi proceeded in leaving the room and making their way to where everyone else was.

I wonder how he even thinks of me… Kairi wondered. Maybe Sora has the right idea. I should just go with the flow.

I hope I don't end up hurting her like this, Sora thought to himself. I'm not even sure how she feels. But what if Riku's right?

Heads turned as Sora and Kairi made their way into everyone's view. Tifa, Aerith, Yuffie, and Cid all sat on one couch, Vincent, Cloud, and Barret stood coolly nearby, and Mickey, Donald, Goofy, and Merlin were in the center of the room. Sora's issues temporarily faded away as feelings of bliss and surprise overwhelmed him.

"Y-you're all back?" he asked excitedly, charging into the room.

Yuffie leapt from the couch and hugged Sora in a friendly greeting. Cloud, Cid, Tifa, and Aerith strolled over to Sora and greeted him.

"Gosh, you're taller than ever," Yuffie commented. "Well, that's not really saying much. I'm just a bit short."

"Heh," Sora chuckled. "It's good to see you guys again. Yuffie, Cloud, Cid, Aerith, Tifa."

"Hey," Cloud said to Sora in his solemn voice. "How's it going with you?"

"I'm okay," Sora answered. "Same ol' fighting-the-Heartless business."

"I see," responded Cloud.

Sora nodded and peered past Cloud at two male characters that he did not recognize.

"Are those guys your friends?" Sora asked.

"Yup," Cid answered. "The really big guy with the mechanical right arm is Barret. The weird, creepy man in the red cape is Vincent."

Vincent scowled at Cid's description of him. Sure, he appeared like an undead, with his ashy eyes, his ghostly long black hair, his gold-plated clawed left arm, and his ragged, red cape. Aside from appearances, an eerie aura was emitted whenever Vincent spoke in his monotone voice. Also, it was a known fact that he was fond with sleeping in coffins. Nonetheless, this good-hearted man was one of the most philosophical and influential party members.

Sora walked up to Vincent and Barret and stuck out his hand. Barret took Sora's hand into his mechanical one and shook it in greeting. Vincent did the same with his gold, metallic left hand. Both men were at least a head or a head-and-a-half taller than Sora.

"Sora, huh?" Barret grunted. "I heard a lot about you on our trip here!"

"Oh, really?" Sora asked.

Instead of staying for a response, he turned around and ran over to Kairi, who was still standing timidly by the staircase. He grabbed her hand and led her into the room to meet everyone.

"Hey, everyone," Sora continued. "This is Kairi…"

For a moment, he paused there. It would have been perfectly fine, but Sora spoke as if he had something else to say. Even as his voice trailed off, all the other members in the room kept their eyes on him. Sora smiled awkwardly as he tried to think of a quick description for Kairi.

"…She's a dear friend of mine," he finished.

Yuffie instantaneously recognized Kairi as the young girl that Sora rescued and dropped off in the safety of Traverse Town over a year ago. Yuffie and Leon were there at the time and Kairi was temporarily placed under their care while Sora, Donald, and Goofy resumed their journey against the Heartless. She was certain that Kairi was this same girl.

"Kairi!" Yuffie exclaimed. "Do you remember me?"

"Yuffie, right? Of course, I remember you!" Kairi greeted, earnestly nodding her head. "You and Leon took care of me after Sora dropped me off in Traverse Town."

Sora knew Kairi remembered that time, but still, he was very impressed with Kairi's memory. Yuffie was equally astonished with Kairi's ability.

"You've definitely become one pretty girl," Yuffie said as she winked at Sora. Sora groaned silently and started observing his feet instead. Kairi giggled and blushed slightly.

Cid could have remembered seeing Kairi at least once before, but even if he did; he could not remember Kairi's appearance. Cloud and Tifa were acquainted with Sora for some time, but they had never heard of or met Kairi before. As a result, Cloud and Tifa came forward to Kairi and exchanged a few greetings.

"I only know everyone's names from the stories that Sora told me," Kairi said as she shook Cloud and Tifa's hands. "He told me you're all really strong warriors, too."

"Sora said that?" Tifa asked amusedly. "Well, did he tell you that he is probably just as strong or even stronger?"

"Nope," Kairi giggled. Sora was modest; he would never needlessly brag about any skills that he might have. Kairi knew that and thus she never asked.

When the greetings and jocular comments ceased, the darker, more serious matters arose. Everyone stepped back as Mickey came forth to initiate another meeting. If it had not been for Riku's disappearance, or the failure to liberate Destiny Islands, all would still be going according to plan. Unfortunately, time was not an expendable resource and the search for Riku as well as the liberation of Destiny Islands must be postponed until later on. When Mickey announced this, he only faced protests from Sora and Kairi.

"The islands are our homes and our friends are still stuck there!" Sora complained. "Not only that, we have family there, too!"

"How long do you want our friends to live in fear there?" Kairi added in disappointment. "They cannot wander away from their shelters. Eventually they'll all probably starve or go insane!"

"I have no other solution," Mickey answered sorrowfully. "Unless you wish to separate and one of you come with us while the other fights on Destiny Islands…"

Sora and Kairi did not answer.

No way I'm leaving her, Sora thought.

No way I'm leaving him, Kairi thought.

Mickey stayed silent for a brief moment and resumed the discussion.

"We have two methods. Each with equal difficulty as―"

"Your Majesty, you have to let Sora and Kairi save their home world," Cid interrupted. "Just like we have to save ours."

"We know what it's like to lose our homes and our friends," Aerith added solemnly. "We already lost our world once and now it's on the verge of being destroyed the second time."

Mickey thought for a moment and sparked a new idea.

"I've got it," he said. "Come around, everyone!"

Everyone who was listening leaned closer to the center of the room to hear of the king's new ideas. Sora and Kairi listened especially closely.

"Okay," he started. "My first method as I was gonna say before was to go from world to world, one by one, like Sora, Donald, and Goofy did on their previous journeys. Each world that's under attack from the Heartless must be cleansed and then locked by the Keyblade.

"My idea now is for us to go in two different directions. Sora and Kairi will travel alone back to the islands. They will fight the Heartless there and seal the keyhole. As for the rest of you guys, I will travel with you and help lock your world with my Keyblade. From there, we will journey from world to world, sealin' the keyholes to every world open to Heartless attacks.

"It's gonna be tougher this way, though. We won't have all the Keyblades together, which is why Sora and Kairi gotta be especially careful on their own. I can only carry one myself. Everyone comin' with me, we have to rely on our strength in numbers to make up for the Keyblades."

"Sounds good," said Barret, as he grinded his knuckles. "When do we leave?"

"Now, Barret, like King Mickey said, the journey will be much harder than it sounds," Merlin joined in. "And we are not just dealing with the Heartless, but with the Nobodies, too. And this time, unlike Sora's previous adventure, the Heartless and Nobodies are on the same side."

"Merlin's right," Mickey continued. "Everyone must be alert and ready at all times."

Suddenly, the meeting was interrupted. A crash sounded outside the house. Screams could be heard from the frightened townspeople. Mickey carefully inspected the sight from a nearby window.

"Including now."