Disclaimer: not mine

Anyone use Kobo ereaders? If so, do you have issues with them freezing and making you restart them? I've been using them for about a decade and I've had this issue with every one of them. Sad that Kobo and Kindle basically put everyone else out of business, the Sony ones were so much better.

So I got to the data battles of Re:Mind. I have Sora at level 71 on beginner. Can't beat any of them. I hate blocking in KH3, it works maybe 1 out of 10 tries if I'm very lucky. And these idiots never take a break in attacking. I barely had to heal in any fight previous to this, talk about a massive jump in difficulty, too massive. It's ridiculous, guess I won't be getting any further in this game.

Chapter 13

Riku rushed to Sora's side, ushering him and Luna into the cave to keep them well out of sight of the approaching human. Ven, Ienzo, and Roxas were with them, the others out in the cove, hidden beneath the water and ready to deal with any threat. Riku snarled as he realised the human was entering the cave, but Sora took his wrist, shaking his head, and he knew he was right, the water would conceal them.

"Sora?" the voice was distorted by the cave and water, but it was definitely Sora's name.

Riku looked at him, seeing his wide eyes. "Sora?"

"Kairi…it's Kairi, why is she here?" Sora asked in confusion.

"Kairi?" Riku asked.

"She helped rescue you."

"Could she help find Naminé?" Ven spoke up, and Sora nodded.

"But….how do we even…" he looked to the surface, handing Luna to Riku.

"Sora!" He called after him, hesitating, but then Ven took the pup, leaving him to follow his mate. "What are you doing?" he asked, watching as Sora squirmed to reach his old human things.

"I can write her a message, asking for help," Sora grinned at him.

"Will she even consider?" he motioned to Sora's altered form.

Sora hesitated. "It's worth a try. They gave me back my life Riku, tried to save our pups, if we can help them find their daughter then we have to try."

Riku nodded, he agreed, he just wasn't sure about asking a human, but…she'd helped Sora save him so she couldn't be bad, right? Still, surely she would hate them for taking Sora away? If she even believed it was Sora.

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Kairi made her way into the cave, clutching her phone for light. His house had been empty, not just of Sora but of his things which was weird. She'd almost left then but decided to take a quick look in the cave. She made it to where it opened out, seeing the mass of bedding, towels, scattered clothes and resting near the water was a tablet with a blinking light. She hesitated, looking closer, but the water was calm and dark. There could be ten or more Sirens under the surface and she wouldn't be able to see them. The tablet just sitting there screamed trap but how? She should go….but she found herself walking to it, picking it up, fining drops of water on it.

There was an open document just waiting for her. Sora had been teaching Riku to read and write using it, but this…this was addressed to her and the date on the file was today. Sora was alive? It was short, an apology and a plea that had her confused. "Sora?" she called and then backed away at the soft sound coming from the water.

She pressed against the back wall as something…someone surfaced. The first thing she saw was spikey brown hair, why was Sora in the water? Bright blue eyes appeared, not meeting her gaze, and then his hands reached for the rocks, pulling himself up to where she knew there was an underwater ledge.

"Sora?" she whispered and he nodded, still not meeting her eyes. Her gaze lowered to see he wasn't wearing…scales…those were scales, her eyes went to the hand still on the rocks, seeing sharp nails…claws. "No…no…" she shook her head in denial. It wasn't possible.

She heard a high pitching click come from his throat and then he shook his head, water flying from soaked hair. He reached towards her with his hand, finally raising his own gaze to meet hers and she looked away. No matter how impossible, he looked like…only an idiot met a Siren's gaze.

"K…K…a…" it took a few seconds to realise the sounds were letters, he…he was trying to speak. Her name?

"Sora," she choked on a sob, eyes closed tight, her heart racing in terror. She had to leave, to get away.

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Sora bit his lip as she all but sobbed his name, her fear obvious. He didn't want to scare her; he'd never hurt her. But how could he get her to see that it was still him? She'd dropped the tablet halfway between them so he gripped the rocks and hauled himself up out of the water, reaching for it. She pressed closer to the rocks, hearing him moving. What must she think of Riku now? She had to assume he'd done this to him but she wouldn't understand why; that this meant they could be together.

He grabbed the stylus, using it to type out a message before dragging himself closer. He reached out, tapping her leg with the tablet, trying again to speak. "Kkk…a…i…" it hurt a bit which would upset Riku but he just wanted to comfort her.

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Ven quickly swam to Aqua and Terra to explain the plan, it was a very crazy plan. But the human had already helped save Riku, she was their best chance to find Naminé. But would she want to help when they'd taken her friend from her?

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Kairi could hear the Siren dragging itself across the cave. Run, she had to run before it decided to just sing and get it over with. There was the sound of tapping for a little and then move movement. She started as something tapped against her leg, something hard. The stuttering noises sounded more like her name this time and she cautiously looked down to find the Siren had his arm stretched out to tap her leg with the tablet, his gaze on her leg.

She took the chance to look up more, seeing the fins and tail, darker than Riku's by a lot, more of a dark silvery blue. He was longer than Sora had been tall but she guessed that made sense, the tail needed to be longer and stronger than legs in the open ocean. He was beautiful and it hurt to look at him, to know her friend was gone. Why had she ever agreed to leaving Sora alone, to saving the Siren in the first place?

The tablet tapped her again and then Sora looked up at her, his eyes dark with concern and…pleading. He held the tablet up now, silent begging her to take it, and she swallowed but slowly reached out and down to take it.

Please Kairi don't be scared. I'm still me, I'd never hurt you. You're my best friend.

She felt her legs give out, sliding down the rock to collapse before him, seeing his eyes go wide even as he dragged himself closer, reaching for her. She stayed still, frozen, heart pounding even as a damp, clawed, hand touched her shoulder. Kairi felt tears overflow from her eyes, shoulders shaking, and then she was being tugged, familiar arms wrapping around her, clawed fingers running through her hair.

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Riku surfaced silently, watching over Sora as he tried to communicate with his friend. She was terrified and he knew that was hurting Sora. He watched her crumple to the ground, her fear flooding the cave, but she didn't struggle as Sora pulled her into a hug. He hated the way she was upsetting Sora, why couldn't she see he was still the same, still her friend?

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Sora cradled Kairi against his chest, nuzzling her throat gentle, stroking her hair and back. He wanted so badly to actually talk to her, explain everything, but he just couldn't form the words. Siren vocal chords were too different to human ones he guessed. "It's okay Kairi, it's me, I won't hurt you," he kept repeating over and over, despite knowing she wouldn't understand.

"Sss..Sora?" She whispered shakily.

He nodded against her, gently coaxing her head up to look her in the eye. He moved his hand from her hair to gently stroke her cheek, smiling at her.

"What…how….Sora," she sobbed.

He shook his head; he didn't want her to be sad. He smiled at her again, leaning in slowly, pressing his forehead to hers. He took her hand, pressing it to his chest, over his heart. Please, let her understand. He was still himself. It was so frustrat…he gasped as pain ran through him, crying out.

"Sora!" he heard Riku cry out in alarm.

"Sora?" Kairi pulled back from his arms, catching him as he writhed.

Sora panted for air, lying in Kairi's arms. He blinked up at her, seeing her crying, reaching up to touch her tears. "Don't cry," he whispered.

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"Sora!" Riku called out, hearing his mate crying out in pain, moving for the ledge, he had to help him! he pulled himself up and out of the water as Sora writhed, the girl supporting him, only to freeze in shock as his tail split into two, forming legs. He couldn't be going through a season!

Sora lay against her, audibly panting for air, and then he reached up a shaking arm to touch her face. "Don't cry," he whispered…in human speech.

What was happening? He cried out in distress and Sora struggled to rise, Kairi supporting him. "Sora?" he called.

"Riku," Sora reached for him, scrambling across the rocks, uncoordinated.

Riku caught him, holding him tightly, hands running over his naked, human, body. "Sora," he touched his face, careful not to hurt him. He couldn't feel him in his mind like before he became a Siren…no, it was still the mating bond, but how? "Can…can you understand me?" he pleaded, and to his shock and relief, Sora nodded.

"What's happening to me?" he asked, sounding scared.

Riku stroked his hair. "I don't know. Roxas, go get Aqua or Terra!" he called, seeing the other Siren take off into the tunnel. "We'll figure this out," he promised.

"Sora…it's really you?" the girl called.

"Riku," Sora murmured.

"Go," just come back…to me. He didn't say it but Sora leant in and kissed him.

"Love you," he whispered before staggering to his feet, becoming steadier as he moved. "Kairi," he knelt in front of her.

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Kairi looked up at Sora, the Sora she'd known almost her whole life, a soft smile on his face. He'd been one of them but now he was human again…in form or mentally? She hated feeling scared of him but she couldn't help it.

"Kairi," he called her name, reaching out his hand to her. "It's okay, no one's going to hurt you, I promise."

"What's happening?" she asked him, making sure she didn't look down. He was naked!

"I don't know," he admitted. "I'm so sorry Kairi, for everything, I've missed you." He sounded so much like her friend Sora, the look in his eyes, the tone, everything.

"Did Riku do this to you? Why?"

"I love him Kairi, and he loves me," he admitted softly. "But so long as I was human…it would never work. There are other Sirens here too now, one of them used to be human as well. They were the ones who told us how I could change."

"Why didn't you call first? I…I thought you were dead!"

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

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He couldn't tell her everything, she'd never trust any of them if she knew what they'd done to him. "I was hurt Kairi, badly, comatose," it was close enough. "Riku changed me to save me." And as far as he was concerned, that was true.

She stared at him, but he could hear her heart slowing a bit…he could hear it still! So his senses were still at Siren levels? He could still understand Riku too, so was he not actually human again or what?

"How did you end up in a coma?" she demanded, looking him over for injuries, before her eyes shifted up. "Uh…clothes?"

"Huh?" he blinked. "Oh! Right, sorry," he went over to where his things were, yanking on some swim shorts. It felt so strange to wear clothing again, even just the shorts. Then again, even walking felt strange, almost alien.

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Terra stared in shock at a very human looking Sora. How was that possible? He was a Siren now! He looked to see Riku out on the cave floor, watching his mate as Sora pulled on shorts before returning to the human girls side. Was it something he could do too? Would he ever want…Naminé, if he could then they could go after Naminé.

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Sora pulled on shorts and then walked back towards her and Kairi got up. He gave her that familiar grin and she knew, it was really him. She took a step and then ran to him, and Sora caught her easily.

"I missed you so much," she whispered, clinging to him.

"I missed you too and I'm so sorry," he answered, hugging her tightly. "Will you come meet Riku?"

She hesitated, Sora was one thing, but the Siren they'd worked together to free…that had changed Sora into one of them…she glanced over at the silver haired male, he looked a lot healthier, different too. Finally, she nodded. He smiled, taking her hand to lead her over.

"Kairi, this is Riku. Riku, this is Kairi," he introduced them, kneeling down again to take a clawed hand in his, smiling softly at the Siren who smiled back at him.

"Um…hello," she offered, and he looked at her, head tilted to the side slightly, before he made a noise.

"Riku said hello," Sora translated.

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Axel watched the girl with Sora and Riku, Sora translating between them. How could Sora be human again? But, he could still understand Riku so maybe he wasn't? It was way too confusing. He rested against the rocks, watching, and listening with the others. They should probably back off, when she realised how many of them there were she'd probably freak out.

For a human, she was pretty. Her hair was his favourite colour, different shade to his own though. The question was, would she help them?

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Kairi looked up, freezing as she saw all the people…Sirens…watching them. She tightened her grip on Sora's hand and he looked up at her in concern.

"Hey, it's okay Kairi, none of them will hurt you," he promised, but how could he? What could he do if one of them decided to bespell her or worse? She listened as he gave all their names, her eyes going to two blonds, one older than the other. They looked…a lot like Sora, but how? "Oh! And this is Luna," he got up and carefully took a small form from one of the others. He smiled tenderly down at it before showing her, it was a baby Siren? "She's…well she's mine and Riku's pup…daughter."

She stared at him numbly and then down at the small…child in his arms. She looked a lot like Riku, Kairi guessed, but…yeah, there was a little of Sora in her too, not much really but… "How? You're both…" she waved a hand at him.

"Turns out that doesn't matter for Sirens. Both genders can get pregnant. I carried her," Sora suddenly seemed sad.

"But?" She looked at him closely even as he gently brushed through Luna's hair. "I lost the others, I'd…there was too much trauma. I can't…I'll never carry again."

She heard a noise and saw Riku reaching out to gently trace Sora's cheek, his own expression sad.

The idea of Sora being…pregnant was not an easy one to get her head around. It was just beyond anything she knew. So Sora was a…Mum?

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Ven watched as Sora introduced them all to his friend, he was…not scared but nervous to meet a human. Humans had taken Naminé! But this one had helped save Riku… she was Sora's friend, so she had to be a good human, right? Sora had been a good human, not that Ventus had known the human Sora, his mindless body didn't count.

She was scared of them, that was obvious but…maybe she was calming down now?

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Riku watched Sora introduce their pup to his friend. He was wary about that, but Sora trusted her. And she seemed as shocked and confused as Sora had been over the fact that males could carry pups. Humans were strange. He pulled himself closer to where Sora was now kneeling, leaning against him, to tickle Luna's stomach, making her giggle. All that long time, locked up, blind and mute, he'd never dared to dream of a life where he had a mate and even one pup of his own, couldn't have imagined how much he would love them. Knowing someone else was going through that same nightmare…seeing Terra and Aqua's grief, how quiet Ven was…he could see Luna in her place and it made him want to kill those humans, related to Sora or not.

"Hey," Sora called, and he looked up at him, seeing the concern in his eyes. "Riku?"

He shook his head and leant in to kiss him. "It's nothing," he answered. He gently took Luna, cradling her in his arms even as she pulled at his hair to chew. "Will she help us?"

Sora looked at Kairi who was watching them, still wary but he thought she was becoming more curious which would hopefully be good. "I hope so," he breathed too softly for a human to hear.

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Aqua didn't know what to think of seeing Sora looking human again, but it hopefully meant he could help save Naminé. She looked at her mate, seeing the way he was studying Sora. "Sora," she called, and he looked over. So it wasn't just Riku he could still understand, that was good. "How did this happen?"

"I don't know," he shrugged. "Kairi was scared and I wanted to talk to her, to be able to tell her it was okay."

"Hmmm," that was interesting.

And then Terra was hauling himself out of the water.

"Terra?"

He smiled at her. "Worth a shot." He closed his eyes and nothing happened but then he gasped in pain and she reached for him. seconds later he lay on the rock, human.

"Terra!"

He opened his eyes and then he smiled at her again. "I'm okay," he promised, reaching out a hand to her and she gripped it.

"Don't you ever scare me like that again."

"Terra," Ven whispered, eyes wide, and she gently pulled him into her arms, missing the time when he was small enough she could hide him and Naminé away in her arms.

Terra carefully pushed himself to his feet, only to stagger, Sora catching him with a laugh.

"Careful! You've had a tail a lot longer than me," Sora slung Terra's arm over his shoulders. "And none of my clothes will fit you. Uh, Kairi, toss me a towel?" he asked and she scrambled to the pile of human things, tossing fabric over. Sora wrapped it around Terra's waist, tying it off.

"Right, clothing," Terra looked down at himself. "This is so weird."

"But very useful," Sora smirked. "Our rescue team just doubled or tripled."

"Can you still sing?" Axel asked curiously, a dangerous look in his eyes, and Aqua nodded. If they could sing…the humans would never realise the danger until it was too late and they could get Naminé away easily, right?

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Kairi watched as the largest male…Terra?...pulled himself from the water, soon going through the same transformation Sora had. So he was the one who'd been human? She grabbed the towel and threw it over, making sure not to look down. She did not need to see a strange man naked!

"Rescue team?" she asked warily. She'd rescued someone once and look how that'd turned out.

Her best friend was now…well. Seeing Riku with the baby, the look in his eyes when he looked at Luna or Sora, the emotion was so human. And Sora…he was one of them now, a man-killer, most would call him a monster…but had he really changed? When he hugged her she still felt safe. Surely there'd be no point to pretending he still cared if he didn't. No, he was still Sora, he had to be.

"We think my Uncle's up to his old tricks. Terra and Aqua's daughter vanished, Axel picked up on a boat nearby and the location wasn't too far from Vexen's lab," Sora explained as he walked with Terra, helping the man remember how to do it. "She's the same age as Ven," he waved at one of blond males. "We can't just leave her with him, you saw what he did to Riku."

Kairi stared at him. Seriously?! They were lucky they'd gotten Riku out and now he wanted to try again with even less people? He wanted her to help the people who had stolen him from them? How could she tell the others what Sora had become?

"Please," Terra stared at her, the look in his eyes one of desolation. "Naminé is the most gentle being you'll ever meet. She's never harmed anyone, she never would, even to save herself. She's my child, I can't…" he shook his head.

She looked to the blue haired woman, seeing the same grief. Whoever said. Sirens were heartless definitely got it wrong, even if it was only for their own kind. But…Sora said Riku loved him…when he was human.

Kairi sighed; she was crazy, certifiably insane.

TBC…

I'm thinking KairiAxel, VenXion and RoxasNamine. What do you think?