Title: Reflections: Kairi ( 5 / ? )
Author name: Ari Powwel
Author email: eight_muses@hotmail.com
Spoilers: . . . a lot . . .
Summary: Neverland this chapter.
DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by various publishers including but not limited to Disney Interactive and Square Co., Ltd. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Author's Notes: Well, I'm back once again. Rejoice. I'm also cutting myself short on Author's Notes and such.
Thoughts Notes: Since Kairi can now hear both Sora and Riku's thoughts, here's how they'll be shown (as it will be extremely confusing otherwise):
Italics: Kairi's thoughts
// slashes \\: Sora's thoughts
|| lines ||: Riku's thoughts
~ tildes ~: Someone's thoughts (This someone has already probably been guessed by all of you -_-")
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I frowned. Captain Hook's ship had appeared before Sora's ship, and the Excalibur slammed into the prow, sending the three figures out of the ship. Donald and Goofy had been taken away by some of the crew, but Sora had been left alone. He had just woken up, and from what I could tell, wasn't in the best of health. Light, Sora . . .

'I didn't think you'd come, Sora,' came the superiour voice of Riku. Sora gasped as he staggered to his feet; I let out a somewhat frustrated yell. 'Good to see you again.'

Light, he makes it sound as if it's a joke!

'Where are Donald and Goofy?' Sora demanded.

|| Hmph. More worried about your new friends than someone you haven't seen for a long time? I should have expected it. ||

I winced. That was extremely harsh.

~ Of course. You know that boy only cares about his replacements. Why would he spare emotion for his old friends? He doesn't need you anymore . . . he doesn't even care that you could have passed death already. ~

I sighed, that voice, though a bit creepy at first, just seemed to be repeating the same things over and over. But . . . the way it talked . . . the voice was slick, as though layering his voice with a hypnotic tone.

'Are they that important to you? More important than old friends?' Riku questioned. 'Instead of worrying about them, you should be asking . . . about her.' He stepped aside, revealling my body propped up against a pole. I shuddered; saying 'my body' was still a bit unnerving.

'Kairi!' cried Sora.

'That's right,' confirmed Riku. 'While you were off goofing around, I finally found her.'

|| While you were off playing with the Keyblade . . . I was searching, always searching. ||

// Goofing around? What does he thing I've been doing all this time, sitting around doing nothing? \\

~ Of course, you were always searching. We both know that. And now, perhaps the girl will love you? ~

Riku flushed a bit, as did I. However, Sora didn't seem to notice, charging forward, only to be stopped by a silver, wicked-looking hook. 'Not so fast,' drawled the familiar, sinister voice of Captain Hook. 'No shenanigans aboard my vessel, boy.' As he spoke, he, Mr Smee (the first mate), and several Heartless ringed Sora.

'Riku, why are you siding with the Heartless?' Sora shouted. // Can't you see what they're doing to you? \\

'The Heartless obey me now, Sora. Now, I have nothing to fear.' Riku answered coolly.

'You're stupid,' accused Sora. 'Sooner or later, they'll swallow your heart.'

Sora! That was an awful thing to say! . . . Though it could be true . . .

'Not a chance,' retorted Riku. 'My heart's too strong.'

~ It is, boy. Your heart is far too strong to be stolen by the Heartless. They could never touch you. You know why he's saying that . . . ~

|| Because he wants me to give up my power so that he'll be the most powerful of us and he can save Kairi without my help . . . || replied Riku dully.

~ Exactly. ~

|| I just can't believe Sora would do that. ||

Trust yourself, Riku, you know he wouldn't. Why would you believe this . . . this thing?

~ Oh, but he did, child. You have the proof before you! ~

|| No. ||

~ Oh, yes . . . yes, he did. ~

'And I've picked up a few other tricks as well. Like this, for instance.' Riku gestured, and a shadow-copy of Sora appeared before Sora, eyes glowing yellow.

~ Wonderful. ~

'You can go see your friends, now . . .' A hatch opened beneath Sora, and the russet-haired boy fell through.

|| I still don't believe you. ||

~ You don't have to, ~ the voice cackled. ~ But how else to you expect to find the girl's heart if you can't cooperate? ~

|| . . . I can't. ||

~ Precisely. You have no choice. ~

I shuddered. That voice . . . was so cold. So unfeeling. It was as if the voice drew joy from the internal struggles of people. But what was it? It frustrated me that I couldn't figure out where it was from, and I knew that the voice was somehow dictating Riku's actions, and . . . it frightened me, a bit. On the islands, Riku would never follow another's orders. If someone gave him an command, he would do the exact opposite, even if he had already begun to do what the person instructed, he would stop and do the contrary. That someone could make Riku willingly obey them was as if the sky had turned pink.

'Yeah, it was definitely Kairi. I've finally found her,' Sora nodded.

'All right! Then, let's go up and talk to her.' Goofy said.

'Yeah!' Sora cheered.

'Sounds great. Okay. But first . . . how's about getting off?!' Donald squawked. I giggled; Sora was lying on his back on Goofy's back, who in turn, was sprawled over Donald, creating a small pile.

Sora looked down at Donald, seemingly noticing the heap for the first time. 'Oh,' he smiled sheepishly. 'Sorry.' He slid down from the stack, laughing slightly. I smiled; it was nice to see that Sora was still himself in the middle of all this mess. Unlike Riku.

'So . . . how do we get out?' wondered Sora. 'The door's probably locked . . .'

A cough came from above them. 'How ya doin' there?' asked a red-haired boy, clothed in greens, floating down from the ceiling. I blinked. How could he fly? 'Looking for a way out?' he continued.

'Who are you?' Goofy asked.

That's what I'd like to know . . .

'I'm the answer to your prayers,' responded the boy. I couldn't hold back a laugh. That was . . . cliché . . .

Donald gave him a skeptical look, tapping his foot and folding his arms.

'Okay, then. Fine,' the boy shrugged. 'Have it your way.'

'But . . . you're stuck in here, too, aren't you?' Sora queried.

'No,' the burgundy-haired boy said firmly. 'I'm just waiting for someone.'

'Who?'

As if on cue, a small golden light flew through a hole in the door, soaring around quickly, in tight circles, leaving a trail of golden dust behind her. The light floated before the boy's face. 'Tinkerbell . . . what took you so long?' he questioned.

The light, which was revealled to be a pixie, now that she had stopped fluttering her wings, gestured and mouthed rapidly. Although I couldn't understand her, the boy seemed to as he praised, 'Great job. So you found Wendy?'

Tinkerbell answered him again, and for a second time, I didn't hear her response. 'Hold on,' the boy frowned, eyebrows coming closer together. 'There was another girl there, too?' At Tinkerbell's response, he frowned harder (if it was possible). 'Are you crazy? There's no way I'm gonna leave Wendy there!'

How can he speak to that fairy? And what's his name, anyways? I wondered, as Donald laughed.

'She must be pretty jealous.'

Tinkerbell's skin glowed with a slight reddish tinge, and she kicked Donald's beak, then flew off. 'Come on, Tink!' the redhead called after her. 'Open up the door!'

Sora cleared his throat, and the boy turned back to him. 'I'm Peter Pan,' he introduced himself, putting a hand out.

'I'm Sora,' Sora replied, looking at Peter's hand.

As he reached out to shake it, Peter pulled it back suddenly, proclaiming, 'Okay, we're in this together, but only 'til we find Wendy.'

I shook my head. He's a bit . . . bad-tempered. I wonder who this Wendy is . . . and why Peter's so focused on saving her. I followed Sora out of the hold, still wondering to myself. I paid no attention to where we were going, as Heartless didn't effect me, and so I paid them no mind. My thoughts were rather scrambled, making no sense to me. All questions seemed to come back to the same questions: Why had Riku allied himself with the darkness? Who was that strange voice that spoke to him? Why did Riku believe that Sora didn't care about us anymore?

'So, uh, how come you can fly?' Goofy asked Peter, who didn't walk, merely floated a few inches above ground.

'Anyone can fly,' answered Peter. 'You wanna try?' Without waiting for a reply, he called for Tinkerbell, who reappeared in a trail of light. 'Aww, haven't you cooled off yet, Tink?' He shook his head, telling her what he wanted. She flew overhead, and Sora, Donald, and Goofy were sprinkled in the dust that fell from her sparkling wings. 'Just a little bit of pixie dust . . .' muttered Peter as she flew. 'There!' he announced, 'Now you can fly.'

Donald leapt into the air and flapped his arms rapidly, but plummeted back to the boards of the ship with a dull thud. I giggled as he tapped his fingers on the ground in irritation again.

We traipsed around the decks awhile longer, before Tinkerbell crossed in front of Peter again, trying to get his attention. 'What is it, Tink?' he asked the irate pixie, who answered him quickly. Peter started to reply, but—

'Peter?' a female voice called from above. 'Peter Pan?'

'Wendy!' Peter shouted, floating up to a grate.

'Please hurry!' Wendy cried. 'The pirates are coming!'

'What?! I'll be right up there, just hold on!' Peter told her.

'Wendy?' Sora asked cautiously.

'Yes?'

'Is . . . is there another girl in there with you?' // I hope . . . \\

There was a moment's pause, then, 'Oh, why, yes. But she seems to be asleep. She hasn't budged an inch.'

I had to raise an eyebrow at this. Asleep? There was quite a difference between asleep and heartless . . .
'Kairi?' Sora asked. 'Kairi!'

I wanted to tell him that I was here, but I knew already that I couldn't. Instead, I focused all my being into physically telling him that I was there, but I couldn't see anything happen. There was a crash of wood on wood, and I watched my body being pulled up.

'Wendy!' Peter hollered. 'Hey, let's get up there!' he told Sora, and the four proceeded to the next level, me following. I was a bit disappointed, to say the least, but there was no use looking back on the past (though I knew I did that often.). Peter pounded on the wooden door obstructing our way into the next room. 'Wendy, are you in there?' When no reply came, they forced the door open.

'They're not here,' Sora noted.

'What's that?' Goofy asked, pointing up. Everyone followed his finger and saw a ladder, hanging on the ceiling by a small latch.

'Everyone out of the way,' Peter declared, flying up and sliding the latch to the other side, sending the ladder swinging down as if on a hinge. Goofy reached out and caught the ladder as it fell, bringing it to its final resting spot on the ground gently. We all climbed it and advanced into what seemed to be the captain's cabin.

'Riku, wait!' cried Sora. // What are you doing?! \\ The source of his agitation was instantly revealed as I emerged into the cabin. Riku was cradling me in his arms, standing at the door.

|| Why? ||

I sighed. Not this again . . .

Riku gave Sora a slightly-irate look and stepped back, a shadow sliding across the ground under his feet. The shadow-like copy of Sora from before sprang up, and as Sora pulled out the Keyblade to take care of it, Riku disappeared.

// Riku! \\ Sora cried, slashing at the Antisora and trying to catch a glimpse of the boy. It puddled beneath his feet and sprang up behind him, striking his back.

|| I'll just . . . leave you to your game. ||

Riku . . . !

Sora let out a yell as the Antisora darted behind him, swinging the Keyblade and using the momentum to propel him around to face the shadow. He drove the Keyblade into its shadow-flesh, smiling grimly as the Heartless burst into smoke, a heart rising from the destruction to return to its owner. 'Finally,' he groaned, letting the Keyblade disappear. But to where? I wondered. Where did the Keyblade go? 'Now, let's go. We've gotta find Kairi and Riku! Again.'

'And Wendy,' Peter reminded him.

'Right. And Wendy.' I giggled; that was so like Sora. 'But where could they be?' Sora continued.

'Hey, Sora . . . didja notice that?' Goofy asked, pointing at his feet. I looked down, as did Sora. Under Sora's feet was a trapdoor. 'Maybe . . . maybe they're down there!'

Sora nodded. 'You're right, Goofy.' He crossed to the other side of the room. 'Because . . . we were here . . . the wall was here,' he stood in about the centre of the room and jumped, heels slamming into the floor with a dull thud, 'and so their room was right here!' He bent down, fiddling with the latch on the trapdoor. A moment later, the door dropped open, and we all dropped down into the room.

'Wendy!' cried Peter, crossing over to a girl. She had brown hair, pulled back by a blue ribbon. She wore a blue nightgown, and a pair of blue slippers covered her feet. However, she didn't seem to be conscious, and as Tinkerbell flew around Peter's head in dizzying circles, he said, 'Come on, Tink. Not now!' He turned to us. 'Well, this is as far as I can go. I've gotta help Wendy!' With that, he scooped Wendy into his arms, flying up and out through the trapdoor. Tinkerbell followed, though at a slightly leisurely pace.

'Come on,' said Sora to Donald and Goofy. 'There's no-one else here.' He pushed through the door and made his way back into the captain's cabin, followed by Donald, Goofy, and myself. We exited the cabin, onto the main deck of the ship, but I was still preoccupied. I wondered about Riku, yet again. I hadn't heard that voice when we'd all been together in the cabin . . . was it possible that the voice had convinced Riku? Was it possible that Riku now hated Sora? Was it possible that Riku was acting of his own free will now? . . . I sincerely hoped not. I wished that we could all go back to Destiny Islands and be a trio once again, Sora running around challenging Tidus to duels every five minutes, Riku watching in amusement from his island as the two battled, me giggling at both and cheering them on as they fought.

'Quite a codfish, that Riku,' Captain Hook's voice broke into my thoughts. 'Running off with that girl without even saying goodbye.'

'Run off where?' Sora asked. 'Tell me, where did he go!'

'To the ruins of Hollow Bastion,' responded the captain, 'where Maleficent resides. But you won't be getting there.' He dangled a lantern in front of us, a familiar sprite trapped inside its glass walls. Tinkerbell! 'Unless you intend to leave your little pixie friend behind?'

'No . . .' Sora said, Keyblade disappearing. A group of Heartless surrounded us, but Sora didn't seem to notice. Donald and Goofy clutched at their weapons, looking around, seemingly calculating the odds of the fight.

'Hand over the Keyblade,' Captain Hook continued, 'and I'll spare your lives. Be glad I'm merciful, unlike the Heartless.' He gestured to the pirate-like Heartless enclosing us. 'So, which will it be? The Keyblade? Or the plank?'

A ticking sound rent the air; both the captain and I rushed to the side. I remembered what had happened when Riku and I boarded the ship for the first time. A crocodile had been circling the ship, and Captain Hook had gone mad, ranting about his hand and Peter Pan. Perhaps, if it was the same croc, we had a chance of escaping—although in reality, we didn't really need it. We could get away anyways. But still—'It's him!' the captain shouted. 'The crocodile that took me hand! Oh, Smee . . . He's after me other hand! Go away!' he bellowed at the crocodile. 'Oh, I can't stand the sight of him!' He climbed a ladder, and standing at the door of the cabin, he hollered, 'Smee, you take care of them!'

'All—all right,' Mr Smee stammered. 'Now, off the plank, off with all of you!' he flapped his hands at us herding the three (that he could actually see) to the plank. 'You, boy, you go first.'

With a disbelieving look, Sora strode to the end of the plank. He's not actually going to jump, is he?

Sora jumped.

I let out a shriek, dashing to the handrail. Oh, Light, Sora . . . under him, the crocodile opened his mouth, anticipating a meal, but right as Sora was about to be devoured, he soared around the crocodile, skimming the water and reappearing above the ship. Peter flew down and snatched the lantern from Smee's hands, freeing Tinkerbell. 'Thanks, Peter,' Sora said.

Peter nodded. 'Hey, don't mention it. You didn't think I'd leave you and Tink behind, did you?'

'Course not. I knew it all along.

Mr Smee ran away, much to all of our amusement, leaving us—or rather, them, as I couldn't do anything—to defeat the Heartless. Which they did, rather quickly, as Sora shouted, 'You're all going down!'

As the last Heartless exploded, Peter, Sora, Donald, Goofy, and I crowded into the shadows around the cabin door. After a moment, though, I gave up and strode before them, watching the spectacle. Peter knocked on the door. 'Is that you, Smee?' the captain asked from the safety of his cabin. I noted that he still seemed a bit . . . afraid. 'Did you finish them off?

Peter pinched his nose, replying in a voice that sounded identical to Smee's, 'Aye, Captain. They walked the plank, every last one of them.'

The door burst open, the captain dashing out. He glanced around for Mr Smee, not noticing as Peter crept up behind him and poked him in the back with his dagger. 'P-Peter Pa—blast you!' the captain howled, drawing his sword.

'Ready to make a splash, you codfish?' Peter taunted. 'Now it's your turn to walk the plank!'

Peter and Captain Hook were soon engaged in a spellbinding swordfight, the rest of us watching from the sides. It seemed to be a conflict between the two, and so Sora didn't join in, Donald and Goofy following his example, or perhaps sensing the same thing. Captain Hook was deft of blade, and his sword reached further, but Peter had the advantage of flying around, which struck me as a bit unfair, but it was a pirate, so . . . I shrugged. Peter flew above the captain, shoving his dagger through the plumed hat he wore, and lifting it from his head. In response, the captain whirled, forcing Peter to drop the hat . . . onto his own head. He blocked the sword easily enough, parrying several times before driving Captain Hook to the rail and over. 'Blast you!' cried Hook again, falling into the water with a splash. As he reappeared, the crocodile's eyes bulged with glee, and Hook screamed, nearly running over the water, chased off by the crocodile.

Sora stood at a railing on one of the upper levels, staring into the sky above. A small smile was across his face, only visible by me because of my position next to him.

So, Sora . . . what next?

'Uh, Kairi couldn't wake up, so maybe she's really lost her—' Goofy began, but Donald interrupted him with a shushing noise.

'I still can't believe it . . .' Sora said. 'I really flew. Wait 'til I tell Kairi. I wonder if she'll believe me . . . probably not.'

I giggled. Of course I'll believe you, silly. I was right here, watching!

'You can bring her to Neverland sometime,' Peter offered. 'Then, she can try it herself.'

Really?

'If you believe, you can do anything, right?' Sora questioned. 'I'll find Kairi. I know I will. There's so much I want to tell her—about flying, the pirates, and everything else that's happened.'

As Tinkerbell flew around the deck, finally stopping at Peter, I giggled again. I'm right here, Sora. I've seen it . . . but . . . I wish we were all together again.

'What's that, Tink? What about the clock tower?' Peter asked, and Tinkerbell repeated her statement. 'You say there's something there?' Tinkerbell nodded, and he called to Sora, 'C'mon, let's go!'

'Okay,' agreed Sora, and I grabbed onto his arm as he took off, along with everyone else, though I was unnoticed.

'You know, people from all over London look up at the clock tower,' Wendy informed us. 'But one of the clocks is wrong. Could you fix it, Sora?'

'Sure,' Sora agreed, jumping off the tower. I could tell he enjoyed the sensation of freefalling, because Peter even floated out to be sure he wasn't just falling, with no way of flying back up. Moments later, Sora appeared in front of the clock face again, and he struck the hands of the clock, pushing them forward until the clock struck midnight. I floated next to Sora, watching in interest as a white light appeared next to the number '3' on the clock. Another white light issued from Sora's Keyblade and went into the keyhole-shaped light, and as a clicking noise resonated from the 'lock', Sora noted to himself, // This world is locked. Now, it's safe from any Heartless that could threaten it. \\

So that's what it was. A Keyhole.

'Peter, are you really going back to Neverland?' Wendy asked.

'Afraid so . . .' Peter nodded. 'But we can see each other any time. As long as you don't forget about Neverland, that is.' He grasped her hand.

From where we were standing, Tinkerbell glowed a slight reddish colour. Donald laughed, but stopped quickly, remembering what had happened the last time. I laughed at Donald, and Sora bit his lip to keep from snickering.

'Oh, boy,' Peter saw Tinkerbell's irate expression. 'She's gettin' steamed again. Do me a favour. Look after her for me, will ya?'

'What?'

'Let Tinkerbell come with you,' Peter said.

' . . . okay . . .'

'And here, take this, too.' Peter handed Sora a keychain, a small red feather like the one in his cap dangling off the end.

'Sora, thanks,' Wendy nodded to him. 'I'm sure you'll find who you're looking for.'

'How did you know I was looking for someone?' Sora asked, obviously a bit astounded.

'It's quite apparent,' Wendy smiled. 'You'll find her.'

// . . . but when? \\

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That took awhile to write . . . but . . . I think it's an okay chapter, though not nearly one of the best x.x

Anyways, thankies to the following reviewers:

~ FlikFreak ~
Heh, glad you like. You a Kairi fan?

~ DClick ~
**nods** Chapters very confuseling. Very.
I agree, final bosses shouldn't be wimps . . . though the first time I played it took me three hours to defeat Ansem the second time on Destiny Islands . . .
Nuuu~!! R/K is the best!! **rabidly shipping R/K** And besides my initial explanation, they're cute together!! ^_^ Sora's a bit . . . no comment.

~ Mizutaka ~
Tis the first!
**drinks Pepsi** Yes, the never-ending Sophomore party!! **dances around** We got our first report cards: all As, except one B+ and one C (but she doesn't like me anyways . . . ;;)
Yeah, Kairi just jumping around IS boring . . . I included this one because I thought I could work in a bunch of the one-sided conversations where Kairi hears both of them talking and talks also, but . . . **thwaps chapter** Ah well. Better to have some build-up chapters, ne?
Yes, poor Riku-kun . . . **glomps** [Riku: -_-" Will you STOP?!] No. ^_^ (Anyways . . .) I pity him much. I can't do Kairi's thoughts much . . . she's supposed to be worried about the voice, cos she thinks it's – wait, I may have gotten that point in there this time (hopefully XD)
Anyways, here's the next chapter (after two weeks.).
I've only done two episodes of Yuugiou . . . the one where Bakura leaves the hospital and the one where Rishid (Odion) and Jonouchi (Joey) duel and Rishid summons Mystical Beast Selket. (Must do more soon so I can start re-using tapes instead of finding a new one every week x.x;;)
Magneto IS a psycho. He's kinda . . . scary. -_-"

Okay, now, this chapter was 3,880 words long (not including beginning and ending notes), so . . . I hope it makes up for leaving you all hanging an extra week. -_-"

Chapters left: three and then epilogue (according to outline, that is. It may be different.)
Next chapter: Sora and Riku's fight in Hollow Bastion, an explanation of why Kairi can jump around in people's thoughts, and Kairi's awakening.

Hope to see you all then!