Of Wizards and Keyblades: Chapter 12

pairings: GW/Sora, GW/HP, RW/HG, Sora/Kairi



author's note: I finally got around to updating this chapter, I guess I just wasn't in the mood since I've finished Phoenix. *sigh* I've been mourning. Caution: mushiness ahead! Anywho, let's continue!



Sora helped the other teachers search the castle for the rogue Malfoy, but to no avail. An hour later, Snape came in from the storm outside and reported that traces of an apparition spell were found in the Forbidden Forest.

"The Light Killers must have disabled the ward system and destroyed his bonds. How could they have done it? They couldn't have apparated inside.....how did they get past my spells?" McGonagall muttered, heading towards the staircase to her quarters.

"Minerva, I would be very grateful if you assisted the staff and myself in reinforcing the wards." Dumbledore said before she had mounted the stairs. She turned and headed back to their small group. "Harry, I have a special favor to ask of you." Dumbledore motioned for the teen to come over to him, which he did.

"Harry, I think that our wards are not enough now that the Heartless know how to break them. I was hoping that you could place a few Parseltongue passwords, so that only Voldemort or yourself could break them. It should keep out his lackeys for a while at least." The Headmaster whispered to him, and Harry slowly nodded his head in agreement.

"I'll help you then."

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When Harry came back from outside, he and Sora and his friends finally went to bed, exhausted mentally and physically. It was all they could do to stay awake long enough to pull off their shoes and fall into bed.

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'The sunset's so nice.' Said Kairi, as she sat precariously on the edge of the boardwalk. "Yeah..." Replied Sora half-heartedly, tossing a pebble into the clear sea water. The pixie-haired girl stood up abruptly, and strolled down the walk to the little island with the cluster of tall palm trees. The Keyblade Master followed her with curious interest, until she stopped by the Paopu tree.

'I believe the paopu legend, what about you, Lazy Bum?' She giggled, trying to reach a star-shaped fruit. Sora shrugged, and used his Keyblade to knock an edible star off the tree. She smiled and held it tenderly in her hands. 'Share one with me?' Her eyes were wide and loving, and she bit into one point of the fruit, then held it out for him.

'Kairi....sure.' he accepted her offer and took a small bite from the citrus. A warm tingle crept its way across his tongue, down his throat, and settled on the left side of his chest, inside his heart.

They sat back down on the paopu tree, and Kairi sighed in contentment, her head resting on her friend's shoulder. "I miss you, Sora. You've been gone for four months and six days...it's so quiet here without you, and Riku. I'm lonely. Where are you right now?'

'Goofy, Donald, and I are in this new world, it's full of magic. I'm in the magic school, and I have made many new friends. But there's a new enemy, the worst yet.'

Kairi's head shot up and she stared at him. 'But aren't the worlds separated? That's why you're not here...'

'I know, but....well, we don't know how it happened. I think the Light sent me here because, well, they really need me. This world's keyhole is very important, and the Darkness is trying to find it. It's right under my nose, but I can't see it.' he trailed off, he was so frustrated about the whole situation that a lone tear trickled out of his eye. Kairi saw this, and caught it on her finger before it touched his lips.

'It's okay to cry, Sora. Don't be afraid.' and he let go of the bottled up fear and anxiety in Kairi's arms. Another world's destiny was tossed upon his shoulders, and for the first time he was buckling under the weight. He refrained from sobbing and wailing, but he did not stopper the flow of salty tears.

'Kairi, I'm worried about this world. These friends are unlike any I've made in any of the worlds besides you and Riku. I don't want...to lose them, too.' and now his secret fear was out, ever since he had his first conversation with Harry and Hermione, his first joke with Ron, and his first blush at Ginny, Sora knew that he shouldn't get attached. He would be catapulted back one day, unexpectedly, and he would never see any of them again.

He told his best friend about Voldemort, about how the Light Killers could sneak into the most protected fortress and attack him in his sleep, and how Draco had escaped, and tried to hurt the people he cared for. She just listened intently and rubbed his shoulder. She was a warm, familiar comfort that Sora missed dearly. He knew this was just a dream, and that Kairi wasn't really holding him while the sun set upon Destiny Islands, his home. The thought did not help his worry. "I miss you, Kairi.'

Kairi pulled him away slowly, and looked into his bloodshot eyes. ' Sora, don't ever forget: wherever you go, I'm always with you.'

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The brunette woke with a yawn. He felt oddly refreshed, like a weight had been lifted from his back, even though it was seven o'clock on Monday morning. He tried to recall what he had been dreaming about....but all he could remember was warmth, and someone telling him not to forget something. Shrugging, he rubbed his eyes, which were itchy for some reason, and rolled out of bed.

After Sora had relieved himself, brushed his teeth and hair, and pulled on his robes, a prickling shiver ran up his spine when he saw his bed. It was covered in patches of sand, and a paopu fruit was half hidden under his pillow.

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author's note: I know, that was oddly sappy and kind of angsty, but I wanted to give Sora a bit more dynamics. You don't really see a lot of different emotions besides anger and cheerfulness in the game, and I'm just feeling a bit....evil...today. Next chapter should be out before Saturday. Please review!