Chapter 55: In which Kairi is not that kind

Magical teleportation was actually a pretty nice way to travel, Kairi decided. It was like you didn't move at all—you stood still, and the world moved instead. The colors of Yen Sid's study all melted, swirled around, then reformed in the shape of Destiny Islands. The play island, Kairi realized, after just a second or so. She wondered Yen Sid knew to come here, versus anywhere else on the Islands. She definitely hadn't told him, and Sora'd been too busy getting Ven to promise to look after her. Ha! Like he'd needed to.

She sent a sideways glance at Ven, who quickly looked away from her, tugging at his ear. The motion of turning away from her brought his attention to the ocean, though, and Kairi watched with a smug little smile as he stopped dead, hand falling from his ear. She couldn't see his face, but she could imagine the slack jaw and wide eyes.

"Never seen the ocean before?" Kairi asked, sauntering over to him. She folded her arms over her chest, and nudged his shoulder with hers—he was about her height. He staggered a step, and looked at her, a little surprised. Then he shook his head.

"Oh, no, I mean- yeah. I have. Neverland just looks a lot different, though… the beach isn't quite like this." Ven scratched the back of his neck. "It's nice here," he said.

"Nice living here," Kairi said.

Ven laughed, flashed her a quick grin. "I bet!" His grin looked a lot different than Sora's, but the way he did it still reminded her of him. Kairi sighed, then looked over her shoulder at Yen Sid.

He was frowning in the direction of the main island, humming deeply to himself. He seemed to do that a lot when he was thinking. Kairi headed over to him with a little less swagger, Ven quick on her heels. Kairi rolled her eyes.

"What's the verdict?" she asked Yen Sid. She thought about being rude just to spite Sora—payback for getting Ven to 'keep an eye on her', rather than just asking her to be nice—but figured that would cause too many problems and probably wasn't worth it.

"I am not sure…" Yen Sid said, slowly. His attention did not move from wherever he was staring. "There is another spell here that is quite distracting. Perhaps we should look at it, first."

Kairi shrugged. "Sure," she said. Like she had any clue which would be better. Yen Sid was the expert here, at least on magic.

"Sounds good!" Ven echoed. "How we getting there?"

"I will teleport us over there—it is much too far to walk, and I do not see a boat to cross the channel, either…"

Kairi shook her head, confirming that there wasn't a boat. There might still be an emergency boat on the play island somewhere, maybe, but she couldn't remember where, and why bother when they could just teleport?

Yen Sid waved his hand through the air, and the teleportation spell took just like it did the first time. The melting and swirling of colors was less dramatic, since it was all the colors of the same world, but the sight they were greeted with when everything settled made Kairi's jaw drop.

"Uh, this is Sora's house?" she said, voice squeaking a little.

She almost wished she was mistaken, and this wasn't Sora's house—except, she wasn't mistaken. She couldn't be. Sora's house always looked like this. Small and square and two stories, like every other house on Destiny Islands. The white paint was old and dull, chipped in various places; most noticeably, around Sora's window, which were actually marks from rocks Kairi'd thrown, and not natural chips. Sora's window was on the front of the house, right above the door, and was currently wide open, so Kairi could see inside. The grass around the beaten dirt path up to the door was neat, if getting a little long, and the bush pressed against the front wall by the door looked like it always did this time of year: like it was dying. A few months from now, it'd get a second wind.

Kairi stared at the house for a second longer, then rounded on Yen Sid, demanding: "Why are we here? Is that spell- that spell you said you felt—it's here?"

Yen Sid nodded in that slow way of his. "Indeed. We are standing right in the middle of it."

Kairi swallowed. Okay, fine, she'd get answers on the spell in a moment. More importantly—she mentally ran through Sora's parents' schedules. Sora's dad was working, because he only ever had Sundays off. Sora's mom was… probably just sitting inside the house. Mondays were usually completely free for her.

"Um, I think Sora's mom his home, by the way," Kairi informed Yen Sid and Ven. "Do I need to go distract her while you check this spell out? I can, but you'll have to make it quick."

Yen Sid seemed completely unperturbed. "That will be unnecessary," he said. "I have already cast a perception spell on us—so long as we don't cause a ruckus, no one will even notice we are here."

"Oh." Kairi blinked a few times. That was good, of course, but she still glared. "Coulda told me that," she grumbled, then louder, added: "Well, don't cause any trouble, then. Being noticed by her is the last thing we need."

"I thought you wanted to convince Sora's parents about magic and stuff," Ven argued, as Yen Sid started moving his hands through the air as if feeling for something. Kairi kept one eye on him, and one eye on Ven.

"Yeah, we do," she said, rolling her eyes. "But, with our luck," and our reputation, she added, silently, "Sora's mom's just gonna think it's some elaborate prank. I really don't want to have to deal with that!"

Ven held up his hands in surrender. "Ok, fair. I didn't know!"

Yen Sid suddenly started walking. Kairi sent him a hasty look, then looked to Ven, who shrugged. Kairi decided she'd rather not let a wizard—respectable or no—just wander her islands to his heart's content, so she trotted after him. Ven followed, but that was to be expected.

Yen Sid ended up only walking in a large circle around Sora's house. He muttered to himself the whole time, and kept moving a hand through the air like feeling for something. When they reached the spot they'd started at, Yen Sid nodded to himself.

"Okay," Kairi said. She raised her eyebrows at Yen Sid. "You got anything?"

Ven shot her a warning look. Kairi rolled her eyes and bit her lip to stifle a bark of laughter. Yen Sid didn't comment, which Kairi counted as a victory.

Yen Sid thought it over, then at length, said: "I believe I have just discovered what was wrong with Sora's star shard. Or, rather, what was not wrong with it… The spell here, around—you said this was Sora's house, didn't you?" Yen Sid looked to Kairi. Kairi nodded. Yen Sid lowered his head, running a hand through his beard. "Troubling. Very troubling."

"What's the spell?" Ven asked. "And, why is it troubling?" Kairi considered giving him grief, except, that was perfectly not-rude question. She decided to glare over the fact he'd asked it before she could, instead.

"I cannot be completely sure without further study," Yen Sid said. "But it seems this spell is… blocking star shard travel, I suppose we shall say." Yen Sid cast a dubious glare around the area. "Kairi, you have a star shard, do you not? Perhaps you should test it. Stand there."

Kairi shrugged and did as told, though she tried to make it look like she wasn't in a hurry about it, or anything. Activating her star shard provided… Nothing.

It didn't work, at all.

Yen Sid nodded, looking entirely unsurprised by this outcome.

"I thought so."

"Well, you gonna do something about it?" Kairi asked, pocketing her star shard. "We can't just leave it here."

Ven shot her a glare like death, and for once, Yen Sid actually looked a little ruffled by her attitude. He didn't answer right away, though. Instead, Yen Sid turned and frowned at the air, running a hand through his beard, then through the air, again like he was feeling for something. Was he feeling for the spell? Kairi'd never seen magic done like this before. (Admittedly, she'd never seen any non-combat magic done, but that was beside the point.)

"It is a very complex spell," Yen Sid said, finally. He seemed to sigh. "I could probably have it taken down by sundown, however…" He turned back to Kairi, his perpetual scowl a little deeper than normal. "Considering its strength, and its nature, I believe it is safe to assume whoever put this spell up will notice when it is no longer active. They might even decide to put up a stronger one. Sora will just have to star shard from another location," he declared, as if that settled it.

Kairi wasn't completely convinced it did, but, how could she argue? "Okay," she said. She scrunched up her face as she thought about it a little more. "Who'd put a spell like this here, though?"

Ven cleared his throat. "Do… do you think Xehanort did…?" he asked, cautiously.

"I think it would be unwise to assume he did not," Yen Sid admitted.

Kairi's face wet slack. Worry crept down her spine. Xehanort was a name that came up often enough, but he was distant, there in the sure he exists and we'll have to fight him way but, not close. Not really real.

But now he was putting a star-shard blocking spell around Sora's house.

Kairi swallowed hard. She felt like she'd been violated—like her home had been violated. This was not her house, not her first home, but it was easily her second. And these islands were hers. And Sora was hers. She wished she knew enough magic to tear it down herself. Maybe Yen Sid was right, but it made her skin crawl to just leave it here!

Then she noticed Ven watching her carefully—he sent her a reassuring smile when he saw she was looking. She bit her lip and glared. Then she took a deep breath. She would not look worried. Not in front of him.

"Well, we'll have to warn Sora," she said, faking a confidence that kept her voice from shaking. She was always good at that, no matter how scared she was or how deep the pit in her stomach. It was handy, especially now.

"Certainly," Yen Sid agreed, with no hesitation. "And, now that I have seen this, I believe it is best if we go back to where we started. I will try and decipher the other spell that rests on this world from there. Come." He waved his hands, and the world shifted until it took shape of the play island.

Yen Sid stepped away a few paces, and started running his hands through the air again, just like he had before. This must be how he did magic. Kairi left him to the mumbling and hand waving. There was no point in watching, and pestering him with questions would probably just slow him down. Kairi started considering the best way to shove Ven into the ocean, instead, because that was the best way to really make new friends, in her opinion. Plus, it would totally get him back for agreeing to spy on her for Sora.

So, should she try the classic shove from behind? Go for something a little more… risky? A tackle might work, but this far away from the water, her options were pretty limited…

She was pulled out of her thoughts by Riku's arrival via star shard. What was he doing here? And, why did he look so surprised…?

"Oh," he said, vaguely.

Yen Sid looked over his shoulder, but once he saw it was Riku, simply went back to his work. Ven sent Riku a questioning look. Kairi raised her eyebrows at him.

"Um." Riku cleared his throat. "I came to, y'know, pick you up. Like we'd planned? But, if now's not a good time…" He sent a glance over at Yen Sid. Kairi sighed.

She'd forgotten entirely about the plans she and Riku had made, yesterday. He was supposed to come get her and bring her to Hollow Bastion, so she could spend time with Namine. She'd been so wrapped up in the idea of Sora's training, and then busy with getting Yen Sid here—she'd completely forgotten. She felt awful.

"No, it's not, sorry," Kairi said, grimacing hard. She hated to have to say this, but… "I'm not really comfortable with leaving—" she nodded at Yen Sid "—alone here. So, unless you wanna go get Namine and drag her here…"

She trailed off, though. It didn't seem like the best idea to her, but, if Riku thought it was okay, then…

"You could always go, and I could—" Ven began, but stopped at just a glance from Kairi. He held up his hands and backed way, to give her and Riku space for the conversation.

Riku shook his head at Kairi, ignoring Ven. "Nah, I don't think that'd, well, be good," he said, sighing.

"I'm really sorry," Kairi said, and she meant it. She felt horrible right now. Namine could use the company, the distraction. "If this wasn't so important… How about tomorrow?"

Riku shook his head again, raking a hand through his hair.

"I'll be at C.O. for most of tomorrow," he said. He didn't look or sound happy about that idea. "Even's gotta check my data, give a progress report, etcetera." Kairi tried not to think about the bags under his eyes.

"Oh." Kairi frowned. That put a damper on things. She chewed at her lip for a few seconds. "What about Namine?" she asked. "Will she go with you?"

Riku shrugged. "Umm, probably not."

"Then I could just go visit her," Kairi suggested. "Sora's star shard isn't actually broken, so, I'm free to. Me 'n Namine can hang out, um, without you." That'd kind of been her plan all along, actually. Had Riku known that? If not, then, uh… oops.

"Well, that's up to you," Riku told her, with a slow shrug. He turned his star shard over in his hands. "I should probably get going, though."

Kairi nodded at him. "Yeah, of course!" She hesitated a moment, then added: "Here's to good news tomorrow!"

Riku nodded back. "Yeah, definitely."

"And, y'know… let me know. The news. Any news."

She'd hope for good news, of course, but there was no sense in not hearing bad news, either. The way Riku grinned was a thousand times worth the comment, anyway. He seemed really glad she was invested in this—but, of course she was invested. He was one of her best friends.

"I will!" Riku assured her.

He left.

Ven approached Kairi almost immediately after he was gone. "Is he okay?" he asked.

"Who, Riku?" When Ven nodded, Kairi forced a laugh. "Yeah, he's alright."

"He looked tired…" Ven said. His brow was furrowed with worry, which, was funny, because why would he care? He'd met Riku, what, once? Maybe he was like Sora, and cared about everyone, but…

Still, Kairi laughed again. Ven didn't need to know. "He probably just forgot to sleep last night—he's a Replica, so it won't kill him, but," she shrugged and smiled. "You know."

"Uh, sure?"

Ven didn't look convinced, though. He really was like Sora. Kairi let out a short, frustrated breath of air. Then, before Ven could press, she flashed him her most mischievous smile. "Hey, Ven, you ever gone swimming before?" she asked.

He fixed her with a skeptical look, rather than a worried one. Good.

"Yeah?" he answered, like he was surprised she was asking. "Duh."

Kairi grinned wider.

"Have you ever gone swimming in the ocean, though?"

"I mean, in Neverland, kinda…" He trailed off, squinting in a way that made him seem uncertain. He cast a nervous glance at the ocean, then at Kairi. Then his eyes went wide. He shook his head. "No way!" he said.

"Too bad!"

Kairi lunged at him, but he was quicker than her. Much quicker, surprisingly quicker, actually. He stepped out of her way with ease, which put her between him in the ocean. Drat. She glared at him, and he held up his hands.

"C'mon, Kairi! I don't wanna swim."

Kairi rolled her eyes. Like he had a say! She was getting him into the ocean, whether he liked it or not. And if she couldn't shove him in, then she could drag him. She lunged again.

This time a gust of wind caught her in the side, tossing her into the sand. Ven had only stepped another pace backwards. He was completely unruffled.

"You don't want to start this," he warned her.

His tone was kind enough, but there was a glint in his eyes. Kairi took it as a challenge.

She jumped to her feet, and rushed again.

Eventually, she did get him in the ocean. It took the better part of an hour, because it was hard to compete with a guy who could control wind. She'd probably have bruises all along her side from being tossed to the ground so many times, but ultimately, it'd been fun. She and Ven were both laughing by the end of it. And, besides, she got him into the ocean. That was all that really mattered.