When they arrived back to Traverse Town, all three could hardly walk, Kairi was in and out of consciousnesses as Goofy kept her steady. Kairi held her head as she gripped her wrist while Aerith and Yuffie immediately helped them towards the hotel.
Donald, the only one remaining of the trio, exchanged a glance with Leon, the taller man taking notice of how beat up they all looked.
"Tell me what happened."
Kai...ri…
Ri...ku…
"So the darkness is flowing out of the Keyhole..." Kairi overheard as her eyes fluttered open.
"No wonder there are more and more Heartless everywhere. The only way to stop them is-"
"Seal the Keyhole, right?" Kairi ended Aerith's sentence, as she sat up from the bed.
"Easy!" Donald remarked.
"Yeah, you're still hurt." Goofy added, both of her friends sitting by the side of her bed.
Kairi shook her head, pushing back the covers to sit on the bedside. "It's better than it looks." She turned back to Leon, "What will happen if we seal the keyhole?"
Leon shrugged his shoulders, "Your guess is as good as mine."
"Well, we can't just stay here and wait, that castle's going to be overrun with heartless and there are still people there." Kairi remarked
"That's right. You have one more friend to worry about." Yuffie pointed out, as Kairi flinched slightly.
"If what you've said is true, then Riku's Keyblade must have been born of the captive princesses' hearts-just like that Keyhole you saw." Leon explained. "Of course, without your heart, it remained incomplete. Once that Keyblade was destroyed, the princesses' hearts should have been freed. Don't worry, Sora. If anyone can save your friend, you can.
" But we didn't…" Kairi's eyes widened as the image of Shadow Sora flashed in her head, wielding the keyblade against Ansem, realizing that the shadow of her friend must have destroyed the weapon that created it in the first place.
She held out her hand, focusing on the feeling of the keyblade in her hand but nothing appeared. She looked at her hand sadly.
" I can't summon the keyblade anymore…"
There was a brief silence. Donald and Goofy lowered their heads as they'd already sensed the distress from their close friend, while the Leon uncrossed his arms, standing tall.
"Are you sure?" He asked.
Kairi nodded, clutching her hands together. "I could feel it when it was taken from me, it's light slipping out of my fingers." She clenched her fist, standing up "I need to go back to Hollow Bastion."
"Is that a good idea?" Yuffie questioned.
"I don't know, but I don't care. The darkness there still needs to be sealed away, or else everything we've done, the ones that are we've will all be for nothing." Kairi said firmly.
Leon exchanged a glance with Aerith, sighed as he clutched his furrowed brow, knowing the younger girl was right. "You can talk to Cid if you want, but I don't think that-"
"It has to be done." Kairi reaffirmed, as she nodded a good-bye, walking out as Goody and Donald remained behind.
"Aren't you going with her?" Yuffie asked as the two exchanged a concerned glance.
"After what happened, I think Kairi needs a little space right now." Goofy responded as Donald nodded in agreement.
...
...
"Please Cid?" Kairi asked.
"I don't think I can let you do that, kid." Cid said bluntly, he was holding a wrench, working on a ship similar to that of the Gummi Ship with Geppetto. The Heartless there are multiplying by the minute. They'd eat your ship up."
"But there has to be someway to bypass them, there are still people in Hollow Bastion that are just waiting to be rescued."
Cid sighed, turning towards her, sighing in exhaustion."Okay, When I came here 9 years ago, I stored a special gummi in the secret waterway in case I ever needed it. But never once did I think I'd be handing it over to a kid!" He huffed as he turned back towards his work.
"Thank you Cid, I really appreciate it!" Kairi bowed her head in thanks as she ran off by herself towards the waterway, leaving Cid grumbling to himself, something about, 'Kids Today'.
…
…
Kairi gripped the gummi in her hands as she located it down in the tunnels below Traverse Town. As she turned to go back to Cid's ship she felt her heart beat faster as she sensed a familiar presence with her. She glanced back down towards the end of the tunnel. There standing under the carvings was that same little boy from before, looking up towards it. His head was tilted down and his hands were held up to his face, a gesture that she recognized as the child, her friend, crying.
"Sora?"
She questioned hesitantly, she was about to take a step forward, but stopped as the image of the child shifted to how she remembered her friend last, older. Now as she took the step forward towards him, the image shifted again, now to someone unfamiliar. Someone with a black coat and golden hair, still weeping before they vanished before her eyes.
All of a sudden, Kairi felt a surge of loneliness as her hand was still held out towards where her friend once stood. She fell to her knees as she gripped the Gummi piece in her hand, tears falling from her face as she wailed for her friends to come back. So that they could all return to their home together, hand in hand...
...
Kairi hung her head as she exited the tunnel, only snapping to attention as she saw Donald and Goofy waiting for her with worry on their faces.
For a moment, she looked away, uncertain, but then lifted her head pulling the two into a hug.
"No frowning, remember?" She said cheekily with a smile on her face, sad, but grateful.
"Right!" The two responded as all three laughed away their sadness, even if it was for only a moment.
...
...
...
" All set!" Cid said throwing a grease stained rag over his shoulder. " You can get going any time." Kid, I gotta say, I wish you didn't have to face all this danger." Cid muttered crossing his arms, muttering under his breath. Just before boarding, Kairi folded her hands together, bowing her head.
" Thank you very much Cid, I really appreciate it." But he just planted his hand on her head with a half smile on his face.
"Thank me by coming back in one piece kiddo, all three of ya."
"We will." She nodded with a sincere smile on her face.
The Castle looked torn apart with heartless scattered about in hordes. The three landed in the same area they had before, ready to fight just as a group of heartless began swarming around them. But there came a roar, and the heartless disappeared.
"Beast!" Kairi called out in relief as he landed before them, nodding in greeting.
"It's good to know you all are safe." He acknowledged.
"Are the rest of the princess's okay?" Donald asked.
Beast looked back towards the highest tower of the castle, "They've all decided to remain within in the innermost chambers. But, I'm unable to convince any of them to leave."
Kairi nodded, "We'll talk to them."
"I'll show you the way."
...
They all were gathered within the library, one that sparked a faint memory from Kairi as she glanced towards a chair sitting next to a nearby desk, she smile at the melancholy.
Grandma…
The Beast walked back with a beautiful woman in a yellow gown next to him.
"You're Kairi, correct? I'm Belle." The woman's voice was lovely to hear as well, Kairi thought as the two grasped their hands together in greeting that soon. "The darkness is raging deep inside this castle. We've been holding it back, but we can't hold out much longer." She explained with concern in her voice.
Kairi hesitated for a moment, but nodded reassuringly. "Don't worry, we'll handle it."
"The rest of the princess's are in the Chapel near the Keyhole." Belle informed with a worried smile on her face, guiding them through the maze of the castle with the Beast by her side.
...
They all approached the Castle Chapel with Beast choosing to stay behind with Belle just before they entered the room as the she wanted to further wanted to research what exactly was happening. All of the princess glanced towards the three, as they approached.
"Kairi!"
Kairi smiled brightly as a familiar face greeted them first. "Jasmine!" The two hugged each other in relief. "I'm glad you're alright." She said pulling back from their embrace.
"Me as well, it's good to see you again." Jasmine said as the other princess's approached.
"We've been waiting for you, your highness." A blonde haired woman in a light blue dress said, her voice was soft, comforting.
"Where's Ansem?" Donald questioned.
The princess shook her head, "Already gone. When the Keyhole appeared, darkness poured out of it. It swallowed Ansem, and then he disappeared within it."
"But even though Ansem is gone, the flood of darkness hasn't stopped. We're working together to hold it back." Jasmine informed.
"It was quite frightening, I cannot forget the look on his face. As the darkness engulfed him, he was smiling…" The princess from earlier said with a rather disturbed expression on her face.
"All of us here are holding back the darkness, but we can't hold on for much longer." Jasmine said as Kairi nodded.
"I understand, we'll handle it!" Kairi said confidently.
All of the princess's nodded with reassurance on their faces, moving aside as the trio headed towards the Keyhole.
A chill went down Kairi's spine as she remembered the events of this room all too vividly. After all, it happened only hours ago. Only hours ago she lost both of her…
Kairi shook away the bad thoughts, clutching her necklace as she glanced upward towards the keyhole to darkness.
"Leaving without a Good-bye?"
Kairi turned in surprise to see Leon, Aerith, and Yuffie standing behind her much to her shock.
"W-What are you guys doing here?!"
"We came in Cid's ship." Yuffie explained with a cheeky grin on her face.
"This is our childhood home. We wanted to see it again." Aerith explained better, gently swatting the ninja's head.
Leon looked around the room for a moment," It's in worse shape than I feared. It used to be in one piece…"
"Don't worry, so long as Ansem is defeated, all should be restored. Including your island." Aerith reassured.
Kairi's heart couldn't help but race, "You mean it? Even everyone that was lost should return?"
"Yeah, but it also means goodbye." Yuffie said, lowering the mood of the previously hopeful room. Kairi lowered her head in realization as she looked back towards Donald and Goofy who were examining the Keyhole.
"Once the worlds are restored, they'll be separate again as their once were before, but everyone will go back to their homes." Aerith explained.
"If everything's restored, then we won't be able to…" Kairi lowered her head with realization, clutching her hands together.
"We may never meet again, but we'll never forget each other." Leon said suddenly, catching her attention. He still had his arms crossed and was avoiding her gaze but there was no doubt a warmth in his voice.
"No matter where we are, our hearts will bring us together again.
"Besides, I couldn't forget you even if I wanted to."
Kairi nodded with a wistful smile on her face, "Right, after all, who could forget the great Ninja?" She smiled brighter as Yuffie turned her head back to her with a smile on her face and tears welling up in her eyes.
"But...what's if I can't do it? Seal away the darkness…"
"There is another way to seal the Keyhole, Kairi, you can do it with your light." Leon said crossing his arms.
"My light?" Kairi question clasping her necklace, her heart filling with unease.
Aerith nodded with a supportive smile on her face, "It's true that the Keyblade can seal all the keyholes within every world, but it should be the same if the princess of the world were to attempt to do the same."
"Princess?" Kairi questioned, "I'm not a princess."
"You may have forgotten, and you may have chosen your new home, but this place will still recognize your light so long as you believe in yourself." Aerith said placing her hand on Kairi's shoulder.
She opened her eyes towards her friend, smiling as she lowered her head respectfully, " Thank you-"
But Leon poked her forehead, making her stumble back, resting her hand on where his touch lingered.
"Friends don't need to say thanks."
She was stunned for a moment, before smiling happily. "Then, I'll thank you once I see you guys again, I'll even bring my friends, Sora, and Riku so they'll be able to apologize for all the trouble they caused!" She promised cheekily as her friends smiled at her words.
"Then," Leon began to say as he held out his hand. Kairi glanced at it for a moment before the two shook hands with Aerith and Yuffie placing both of their hands atop the gesture of promise. "Until next time."
Kairi took a deep breath as the depths of the keyhole radiated before her. She focused on her surroundings, all around her was darkness, the heartless beginning to spread out to the reaches of this world, but among all the darkness, there was still a familiar light within the depths…she opened her eyes and an aura of light surrounded her, the light of her heart sending a beam towards the keyhole, opening a gate to a new world right before them.
The trio were in an endless oblivion that led towards a cave in the distance.
"Gawrsh, is that all that's left of the worlds taken by the Heartless?" Goofy remarked worriedly. "Those worlds will be restored if we beat Ansem, right?"
"Yup." Donald remarked.
'But if we do beat him and all these worlds become restored and disconnected, what's gonna happen to this place? And to us?" Goofy questioned.
"Well, uh..." Donald was at loss for words as he scratched his head.
"This is a Heartless world, so maybe it'll just disappear." Kairi remarked rather bluntly, she then felt a hand placed on her shoulder.
"But no worries. Even if this place goes poof, our hearts ain't goin' nowhere. I'm sure we'll find our pals again. Yup, I just know that we will." Goofy said smiling as Donald nodded.
"He's right, we can't give up on them."
Kairi smiled at both of her friend, "Yeah, you're right. After all, they're waiting for us to find them..." She said grasping her necklace.
...
...
"I wonder where that Ansem feller went?"Goofy questioned as they fought countless battles with powerful heartless.
"Maybe if we went in further." Donald recommended as they all walked through this unfamiliar terrain crowded with heartless.
"Huh?"
A white door caught Kairi's attention as it stood against the darkness of this world as though it were light. It reminded her of the same door from the secret place she shared with Sora and Riku.
"What's wrong?" Donald questioned as her friends stood beside her.
Kairi placed her hand over her heart, feeling the presence of a friend from beyond the door.
" I think we have to go through there." She said.
"Are ya sure?" Goofy questioned.
Kairi nodded, assured of her choice, "Yeah, I can feel it." She took the handle of the door, hesitating for a moment. But her confidence came back as Donald and Goofy placed their hands over hers, all three smiling at each other as they pushed through past the last haven.
...
...
"This is..." Kairi gasped as she looked around in disbelief. She was, home? Back on the island where her journey began so long ago...
" It's beautiful, all things considered." Goofy remarked as she was flooded by a wave of nostalgia.
"This world has been connected."
"Ah-" Kairi jumped back as the ground from under her feet began to break away. Various parts of the island beginning to fall apart as more heartless began to give rise.
"What was that?!" Donald questioned as the trio had to evade the darkness creeping onto the shores of the island.
"Tied to the darkness...soon to be completely eclipsed. There is so very much to learn..."
Kairi saw a familiar figure, Riku's figure in the distance as the blue ocean turned into a dark shadow.
"You understand so little. A meaningless effort. One who knows nothing can understand nothing."
She glared angrily as she realized that Ansem was still possessing her friend, her aura of light beginning to surround her as Donald and Goofy took out their weapons.
"Take a look at this tiny place. To the heart seeking freedom this island is a prison surrounded by water. And so this boy sought to escape from his prison. He sought a way to cross over into other worlds. And he opened his heart to darkness."
Ansem turned back towards them, no longer bothering to use her best friend to hide his true form.
"Give me back my friend." She gritted her teeth angrily.
Ansem chuckled at her threat, crossing his arms, "Don't bother. Your voice can no longer reach him where he is. His heart belongs again to darkness. All worlds begin in darkness, and all so end. The heart is no different. Darkness sprouts within it, grows, consumes it. Such is its nature. In the end, every heart returns to the darkness whence it came."
Ansem appeared in midair floating behind Sora's group as the door they arrived from was destroyed, revealing a void that let to an even deeper darkness.
"You see, darkness is the heart's true essence."
"You're wrong!" Kairi said with her words filled with emotion, "A heart may fall to the darkness, but that doesn't mean it'll always remain there. And if you think that Riku would let darkness beat him you're mistaken, he's one of the strongest people I know!"
Ansem smirked at her words, hovering above the trio as the islands continued to be destroyed. "So, you have come this far and still you understand nothing. Every light must fade, every heart return to darkness! Even a heart of light as strong as yours, or as strong as the boy's will always cast shadows that even they will never be able to see." Ansem raised his arm, a great darkness finally destroying the islands as the trio were now in for the battle of their lives with Ansem smiling before them.
"Show me the strength of pure light!"
Sora... Kairi... I'm sorry...
Riku struggled through the darkness, trying to keep himself awake though the foulness of the dark realm.
"Is this the afterworld?" He questioned as he stumbled forward and his body beginning to fade away.
I'm not ready. Not yet. Not until I see Sora and Kairi one last time...
Riku, can you hear me? I'll be there soon.
Riku lifted his head, looking through the darkness. "Who's there?!"
I have the other Keyblade-the one that belongs to this world.
He looked around, no one in sight within the endless oblivion.
I've been trying to get through to you, but the darkness in your heart kept me away. Luckily, there was a light to help me find where you were.
"A light?" Riku questioned as fear began to creep up his spine.
Your heart won the battle against the darkness, but it was too late for your body. That's why you're here—in this place of darkness where hearts are gathered.
Riku rested on his knees, looking towards a winding road up ahead, "So what do I do now?" He murmured as his eyes became lidded with sleep.
The Door of Darkness will open soon, but it's a door we can't enter. It has to be closed from both sides. To do this, you need two keys and two hearts. Maybe you're here for the same reason I am. Maybe it was fate.
"Fate, huh? You seem to know everything, don't you?" He chuckled to himself, "Then tell me, Are Sora and Kairi okay?"
Don't you feel the echoes of their hearts? You already know the answer. Look inside your own heart.
"Okay..." Riku took a deep breath, closing his eyes. He could feel Kairi's light in the distance, strong as it always was, alongside an even stronger darkness that she struggled to kept back.
Kairi, where are you?
He felt something emerge from his heart, Riku opened his eyes to see a small child standing before him in the darkness of own heart. He looked at him in shock at first, then with realization as he recognized the silhouette.
Sora?
The small child, Sora now shifted toward his more grown appearance, looked back at him with that warm smile that always set his heart at ease. Riku limped towards his beloved friend as Sora held out his hand. Just as he was about to take his hand, Sora, the image of him dispersed into a light that filled him with a familiar nostalgia.
Riku opened his eyes, his hand over his heart in remembrance.
"The Strength to protect what matters..."
He lifted up his head with renewed strength in his heart and a smirk on his face. "Show me the way, Sora..."
Kairi's light manifested as beams, combined with her friends weapons made for a powerful attack as they fell all fell deeper into the darkness fighting Ansem. The man had merged with the heartless that he had brought into the lands of other worlds, becoming part of the darkness itself as
"Behold the endless abyss! Within lies the heart of all worlds; Kingdom Hearts!"
Forming in the distance was a grand white door that radiated power, almost overwhelming them.
"Look as hard as you are able. You'll not find even the smallest glimmer of light. From those dark depths are all hearts born. Even yours your highness." Ansem threw a spell of darkness at them, but just as it was about to consume them, Kairi managed to expand her aura to surround her friends...
...
...
I'll find you again, I promise!
...
...
Kairi gasped with realization as Donald and Goofy were knocked out, but the three were still holding hands, clinging to each other as the darkness threaten to separate them. Before them, Ansem still hovered over them, a smirk on his face.
"It is futile." Ansem remarked mercilessly. "Even the Keyblade alone cannot seal the door to darkness." He turned towards the door, commanding it with all his presence. "Kingdom Hearts! Fill me with the power of darkness...Supreme darkness!"
The doors to Kingdom Hearts began to open as her friends began to awaken, three still holding hands even though they were all terrified.
"You're wrong. I know now, without a doubt. Even within the deepest depths of darkness, there is always a guiding light!"
A shining beam of light appeared from Kingdom Hearts doors blinding the being of darkness. Ansem winced at the pure light erupting from the door, "Lights? But why...?" Disappearing as the door remained open, letting loose more darkness than the keyhole did.
"Come on, we have to hurry!" Kairi gestured as the three ran towards the door, pushing against it as the darkness grew even greater. For a moment, Goofy stopped to see something, narrowing his eyes through what lay beyond.
"Stop staring and keep pushing!" Donald scolded
Suddenly, they saw masses of Heartless through the door of Kingdom Hearts, swarms just crawling towards the light of the other side.
"The Heartless!?" They all gasped.
"Hurry!" Donald called as all three tried even harder but to little avail.
Kairi pushed with all of her might but barely moved it forward. "I can't…"
We can't do it alone!
"Don't give up!"
Kairi looked up, tears welling up as she smiled in relief. "Riku!"
He appeared from the other side, no longer possessed by Ansem, holding on to the other side of the door.
"Come on! Together, we can do it!" He insisted as both sides tried harder to close the doors, but the Heartless approached faster.
"It's hopeless!" Donald quacked out.
Suddenly, the Heartless was eliminated one by one. Then, Goofy and Donald Duck saw something bright coming out, it is Mickey Mouse.
Donald and Goofy were in awe as they glanced towards the keyblade wielder in the darkness. "Your Majesty!"
The king held up his own keyblade, shinning against the darkness that threatened them all, "Now,your highness! Let's close this door for good!"
"But…"
The king looked back with a reassuring smile on his face, "Don't worry. There will always be a door to the light."
Kairi glanced towards Donald and Goofy, who nodded at her, as she did back at them. She wouldn't be alone on this.
"Riku!" Kairi called out as the door began to close, her friend glanced back with an apologetic expression on his face. They both reached their hands out towards each other, clasping their hands together for a moment.
"I'll find him, I promise." He said grasping her hand tighter, not wanting to let go of another friend.
She smiled, nodding at him, tightening her grip as she could feel her grip slip. They let go as they two gazed into each other's eyes mournfully, both wanting more time together.
" Donald, Goofy, Thank you." She heard the king say as Donald and Goofy held back their pained expressions.
Kairi ran back as she focused her breathing. Reaching out her hand as she did so long ago, her entire body engulfed within light.
Everyone, please…lend me strength...
Kairi walked along the shores of her island, confused as she glanced towards the setting sun. She wasn't suppose to be here, she was just on their islands, fighting Ansem with her friends. She thought long and hard until she saw a familiar silhouette, sitting on the pier, and all of her fears and worries seemed to fade away.
Her heart raced, she began in small steps that led into strides as she raced towards the pier, panting as she could see him…
"Sora?"
The figure turned his head, soon drawing a happy smile as he saw her face.
" Hey Kairi, I missed you..." He said with that beautiful smile that she'd missed so much, even if it did look a little sadder.
She laughed, her voice horse with emotion, trying not to cry as immediately she sat on the pier next to him, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Are you really here?" She murmured. "Is this actually real?"
"I think so." Sora responded, "I think, I heard you calling out for me..."
" I looked for you and Riku everywhere, and when I found you…" The image of that dark keyblade sat in the back of her mind. The image of her possessed friend stabbing Sora and turning him into a heartless...
Kairi felt Sora returning her hug, both friends holding each other close for a long while. She didn't want to pull back, so instead she rested her head on his shoulder, keeping her arm around his waist as he did the same.
"I thought…I thought that I would never find you again…" He admitted.
"...But you're home now, right? " Kairi asked lifting her head glancing at him. "Once we close the door, you'll be there waiting for us?"
"I don't know." Sora shook his head. "I don't even know where this place is, but if you're here, and once we find Riku, then maybe it'll be like home."
They sat like this together for a while, closely knitted, watching the sun set in a place so similar to their home.
"I'm tired." She heard him murmur to himself, causing her to smile brighter than she ever had before, because now, she had her beloved one back in her arms.
Kairi laced her fingers with Soras', smiling cheekily at him. "You know why Riku and I looked so hard for you right?"
"Yeah, because we're best friends. Hey," Sora responded simply as his eyes grew lidded with melancholy. "were you guys really okay with...being friends, someone like me?"
Kairi chuckled, running her fingers through his hair. "Sora, someone like you was the kind of person we fell in love with."
Sora stopped thinking for a moment, looking at her with widened eyes and a red blush that reached his ears which he immediately tried to cover. " Ugh-Gimmie a break Kairi!"
She laughed into her hands as she almost cried with amusement, she loved him so much. " It's true though, the only reason Riku and I became friends was for your sake. I hated him when we were kids."
"Kai-Ri!"
"And then we both decided that it wouldn't be fair to make you choose between us. But Riku, wow." She chuckled to herself, " He was so obvious about everything."
"Obvious about what?!"
"He was always teasing you Sora! Why do you think he was always challenging you to stuff and making you mad?"
"I dunno I thought it was cuz he liked you…" Sora whimpered. "Wait, then why were you always teasing me?"
"Because I love it when your ears turn red, and you get that doofy look on your face." She said playfully, poking his cheek.
"Uggghhh, you guys are the woorrssstt~" Sora muffled with his hands on his face. "But, if you could wait...just for a little while..." Sora continued to say as Kairi glanced at him. "Then...I'd want to give you an answer...both of you, and answer, once we all go home..." he stumbled over his words.
Kairi only smiled, tightening her grip on his hand, "Once we're all home together." She confirmed as she grew drowsy, feeling that familiar warmth from before. The one that always accompanied her as she summoned they keyblade. It was his warmth always present in her hand...
You...me... and Riku...
Sora looked at his now sleeping friend, his dearly beloved friend, as she was about to fade away, back to the place where she was needed the most.
"Kairi?"
"hm?" She only responded with a mummer.
Don't forget to think of me once in a while...
Her prayer was answered as she felt that familiar warmth being summoned into her hands, the keyblade, returning as an old friend would.
As Donald and Goofy closed the gate, Kairi stood by, willing with all of her heart for the keyblade's, for his light to help her. She felt that familiar touch as the weapon materialized to her side a tear fell as she felt Sora's presence near her. From beyond the door, she saw Riku reflect that same knowing smile as he closed the door that would separate them once again.
"Together!"
A beam from both keyblades closed the door as the Kingdom Key shattered in her hands, the pieces flying upward from the darkness, no doubt returning to their master's side.
As the door closed a whirlwind began to destroy all around them.
The platform Kairi stood on began to break apart from Donald and Goofy, all three of them reached towards each other with fear in their eyes, as the worlds and all those within would return to whence they came.
But Kairi smiled for moment, tears running down her face as she shouted out with all her heart.
"This isn't Good-Bye! We'll see each other again!"
Even from this far distance, she saw her friends drew smiles on their face, cupping their hands as they shouted towards her.
"All for one!" Goofy began to shout as they both began to disappear back into their own worlds.
"And one for all!"
Kairi laughed heartily as her friends disappeared back to their own world. She continued to smile as she fell to her knees, curling her head into her hands and she felt her islands form around her. Returning her to the shores of her island, their island, alone...but now looking forward to the day when she would find a way towards the ones she cared for.
She grasped her necklace, looking upward as she saw all the lost worlds returning to the light from where they called home. In the distance, she knew they wouldn't be able to hear her, but a part of her still believed, still dreamed for the day when all three of them together, would finally return home together.
Riku...Sora...Don't keep me waiting for too long...
Omake.
Water ran down his face as he glanced up, clutching his chest as something within pained him.
"Again..." He murmured as someone slapped his back, shaking him.
"Slacking off again Roxas?" Axel smirked as he dropped an ice cream in Number 13's hand. "Typical."
Roxas smirked in amusement for a moment as he wiped the water from his face, looking down at now wet sleeve he lifted his head towards his best friend. "Axel,"
"Hm? "
"Am I broken?"
Axel almost choked as his friend asked him the question, spitting out half of his ice cream.
"Wha-what kind of question is that?!"
Roxas didn't react to Axel's tone, not even opening the packaging on his ice cream, only shrugging his shoulders as he patted his friends back to make sure he didn't choke on their favorite treat.
The two exchanged a glance as Axel looked uncomfortable when Roxas spoke up again."There's this pain in my chest that's been growing, and when it hurts, my face starts leaking."
"Leaking?" Axel questioned, confused. "Oh, crying?" He questioned.
"What's crying?"
"It uh," Axel rubbed the back of his head. "It means you're...it means you're sad."
"Oh," Roxas murmured to himself, "Is that a feeling?"
"Yeah."
"Is it a good one?"
Axel shrugged his shoulders again, chomping down on his ice cream as this problem child was asking hard questions. "We're Nobodies, we don't have feelings." He remarked.
Roxas nodded at this knowingly. "Then, I'm probably a broken Nobody then."
"Roxas-" Axel stammered out, "You're not broken."
"But you said-"
"I know what I said dummy!" Axel chided as he slapped his hand on Roxas's shoulder, forcing him to look at his annoyed expression. "You're not broken, far from it, you're the best kind of Nobody and if someone else is telling you different, I'll fry 'em. Understand?"
Roxas nodded.
"Good, now eat your ice cream." Axel said taking another bite of his ice cream while Roxas stared at him for a moment, a small smile drawing on his face even though the strong pain in his chest resided.
"Hey!" Roxas turned and smile at Xion sitting down next to him, she glanced at Axel who looked away from the two of them, furiously biting his ice cream.
"What's wrong with Axel?" She questioned.
"He's just mad that I finally found a question that he can't answer." Roxas responded with a deadpanned expression that made Xion laugh as Axel trapped him in a headlock, the three of them laughing fondly at each other's antics...