Disclaimer: Kingdom Hearts belongs to Disney and Squaresoft.
Yay! The story is getting close to done! Art coming soonish, too. I'll give out a link to my Deviant Art account when I get the stuff scanned. I'll post the links in my author profile before I put it in the next chapter, so feel free to check next week or so for something.
I can't believe this story got so many reviews. I will now reply to some of them.
DarkCatriona: I really like that kind of review, they really help me think more deeply about my writing as I progress the story. Thank you.
Demonslayer: hehe, installment. I love that word.
Gerbil X: I understand, it almost killed me to not have any fluff in there, but I didn't feel it was appropriate in the atmosphere I was trying for. I will try to make it up to you now. I heart your spirited reviews, too. Plus, my kitten tried to bite my face while I was typing and missed, landing unceremoniously in my lap. Thus, the molestation.
Desolator: I will try my hardest to get better!
DragonQueen: You haven't reviewed this chapter but I liked your last review enough to respond to it here.
And to everybody else, I would say something to you too, but I want to get right into the story.
Chapter 29
It was nearly midnight by the time the gummi ship landed on the packed sand of the Destiny Islands. Selphie had decided that she and Tidus had no interest in going halfway across the universe to some abandoned castle just for a few books, and had demanded to be dropped off at home. And Cid, being the kind hearted old man that he was, had heartily agreed to the plan, nearly desperate to get the spastic brunette out of his ship.
The jolt of the ship landing woke Ansem from his sleep. Not realizing where he was, he nearly jumped up, stopping only when he noticed Kairi still sleeping against him. He slowly relaxed back against the bed and stared at the ceiling as Kairi yawned and rolled over.
She sat up and looked around in interest, noticing that Arashi had fallen asleep on the second bed. She was nearly falling off with one hand touching the floor.
"The engines are stopped.." Kairi mumbled sleepily, looking over her shoulder at Ansem in question.
She slid off the bed and wandered to the window in curiosity, knowing that it would take much longer to reach Hollow Bastion. All she saw was darkness. Just then the door was pushed open, and Riku stepped in. He almost looked surprised to see Kairi awake, but smiled anyway.
"We're staying here for the night, so you guys can go back to sleep or wander around if you want. Everyone who wants to go on to Hollow Bastion is meeting back at Squall's place tomorrow morning, that way we can grab some food and shower and stuff before leaving." He said quietly. He looked like he wanted to leave, but shifted in the doorway and slipped in towards Arashi.
Kairi watched in amusement as he knelt beside her and lifted her face toward him. She stirred sleepily and he moved her arm back onto the bed. After a moment she mumbled something quietly and he laughed, taking her up into his arms and lifting her off the bed. He moved slowly back out the door with her.
Kairi stared at where they had been for a while before she stretched and moved toward the door herself. "I'm going for a walk, you coming?" She looked back at Ansem and smiled.
He stared at her in disbelief before he was finally able to take in the situation, quickly standing and following her lead.
As Kairi walked past the aisle of seats before the cockpit, she felt a hand reach out and grab hers. She jumped slightly before she realized that it was Sora. "Kairi, can I talk to you?" He whispered, wide blue eyes gazing up at her sadly.
"Um, yea, Sora." She looked over her shoulder toward Ansem before she took the seat beside him.
Ansem followed Riku out of the gummi ship, closing the heavy door behind him. She knew he wouldn't stray too far without her.
"What's wrong?' She asked stupidly, of course she knew what was wrong. But for some reason it always seemed better to ask what was wrong than to ask why it was wrong.
Instead of answering, he leaned forward, bringing them closer. He watched her momentarily before reaching a hand up and stroking her soft auburn hair. He moved forward quickly and she thought for a moment that he was going to try to kiss her, but the thought quickly vanished as he pressed his face into her shoulder in a tight hug.
She hesitated before wrapping her slender arms around his shoulders. It felt awkward, because she knew he loved her, but he was still her best friend, and she was hurting him.
"Sora, I know that-"
"You're happy, right?" He interrupted, not looking up.
Kairi's breath caught in her throat. "Yes, I guess I am.." She gulped.
"I'm sorry I couldn't make you happy." He nearly whimpered, hugging her tighter.
"Sora, it wasn't that you couldn't make me happy.."
"I love you."
"What?"
"Please don't forget that. And please don't let this push me away from you." He said quietly.
She pushed him just enough that he sat back and she could look into his eyes. He stared back at her for a moment, finally taking the opportunity to run his fingers through her hair again. She closed her eyes in contemplation, gasping in surprise when she felt his lips press against hers. Her eyes flew open and she pushed him back again. She couldn't quite think of what to say as she watched him lower his gaze to the floor.
"Sora.. I'm so sorry.." She shook her head in apology as she stood, quickly sliding out the door.
The brisk ocean air blew gently across the beach as Ansem stepped out of the ship, closing the door behind him. He closed his eyes to take in the relaxing atmosphere. He still didn't have any shoes on, and opened his eyes again to look down at the soft sand under his bare feet.
Laughter further up the beach alerted him, and he glanced up in time to see Arashi jump on Riku, nearly knocking them both into the sand.
The sight of her made him hold his breath in surprise, all his old memories rushing back at once. He had watched the Heartless take her, had commanded it, actually. She had been much younger, it pleased him to see her so alive and happy. He continued to watch her as she danced across the sand with the silver-haired boy. There was obviously more there than they had wanted anyone to know.
Her laughter slowly died down, and Ansem watched contentedly as their silhouettes stopped in the surf, hands entwining slowly. He couldn't help but feel protective as he watched Riku lean down toward her, whispering in her ear before he brushed his lips over her cheek. The laughter began again, Riku's joining in as she shoved him playfully and ran down the beach. When he didn't pursue, she skidded to a stop and did some kind of victory dance in the dry sand, lingering there for a moment before dashing away again as he ran to catch her. Ansem nearly smiled to himself, watching the two chase each other down the beach before collapsing in a heap in the sand.
He turned as he heard the door open and close, Kairi slipping out into the dim moonlight. He turned back to watch the two down the beach again as she moved beside him, gently taking his hand and leaning her head against his upper arm. She sighed sadly, tightening her grip on his hand. He looked down at her in question, realizing her sadness when he remembered that she had finished talking to Sora.
Feeling energetic from the brief sleep he got, Ansem felt obligated to help keep her mind off of Sora. Leaning down he kissed the tip of her ear before wrapping an arm around her waist and lifting her off the ground. She yelped lightly as he put his other arm under her legs, carrying her gently down the beach toward Riku and Arashi.
She nuzzled his chest and watched the dark ocean as he moved, closing her eyes in contentment. It didn't take long for them to reach the others, and she looked down at Riku, blushing lightly at the realization that he knew about them. Arashi, being the newest member of the group, was completely unfazed by their appearance. She smiled happily at Kairi, despite the pain stinging her heart at the memory of her older sister in the same position as this younger girl.
Ansem simply set her down in the sand beside her silver-haired friend. He knelt beside her for a moment, watching Arashi with interest.
"Arashi, I never thought I would see you again." he said quietly.
She smiled softly at him, happy to have the familiar connection to her past. Without warning, she leapt forward, wrapping her arms around his neck and hugging him tightly.
"I knew it wasn't you, I always knew they made you do things. No one believed me, but they will now, right?" She whispered.
He hugged her back. "I hope so.." He replied, looking over at Kairi.
There was a dull morning mist hanging over the beach when Kairi awoke. The sun barely visible on the skyline.She smiled to herself, remembering the many times she used to stay out all night with Riku and Sora and just sleep on the beach like her mother told her not to. It was never cold at night, the perfect temperature, actually. She rolled over to face Ansem, whose arm was wrapped protectively around her stomach. She leaned forward and nuzzled his cheek, squirming as he tickled her ribs in response.
He slowly opened his eyes, gazing down at her as she struggled out from under his arm.
He laughed quietly at her, leaning down and kissing her gently. She stopped struggling and settled down into the kiss, lips parting as tongues slid together. She reached up and gripped his shirt tightly, bringing him closer to her as she leaned in, deepening the kiss.
They pulled apart as they heard Riku calling out to them from down the beach. Kairi giggled. "I think we're supposed to be ready to go." She sat up and brushed the sand off of herself, looking around at her home.
"I'm gonna miss this place.." She said quietly. Before Ansem could reply, she grabbed his hand and yanked him up, making him stumble to his feet in an attempt to keep up with her. She hugged him quickly before pulling him back down the beach.
Sora, Riku, and Arashi were already at the gummi ship, waiting for Squall and the others to show up. Kairi was happy to see Sora and Riku wrestling around in the sand, acting like they had so long ago before the Heartless. Arashi was seated contentedly on the metal steps to the gummi ship, watching the two boys with a small smile.
"Hey, Kairi, Ansem!" The dark-haired girl sang out, waving lightly when she saw them coming. Sora and Riku released each other and scrambled to their feet, sand covering Sora and falling out of his hair.
"What the fuck have you kids been up to out here? Unsupervised and all over my gad-damned ship!" Cid yelled, walking around the front of the gummi ship and putting out his cigarette. He crossed his arms and stared around at the group, almost looking like he expected an explanation.
The group simply exchanged glances before Riku replied, "Ansem isn't exactly a kid.." He decided against suggesting that none of them were really what he qualified as "kids".
"The fuck he's not.." The older man mumbled, swinging open the heavy door and climbing into the ship. "You'd better be ready to go, Squall's gonna be here with the others and we're leaving!" He called out the door before he disappeared inside.
Riku grinned, taking Arashi's hand and leading her back into the ship. Sora gave Kairi a weak smile and followed his best friend. Ansem moved to go in as well, but Kairi stopped him.
"Um, would you, take me home real quick?" She asked quietly, motioning back towards the town.
"Of course." he replied, taking her hand and walking toward the nearest road.
It didn't take them long to reach her house, and they stood in the front lawn for a moment before Kairi built up the courage to step up to the front door and ease it open. Almost immediately she released Ansem's hand, watching the front hall as she entered her house.
"Kairi!" her mother yelped, poking her head around the kitchen doorframe into the hall. "Where were you? I was worried!" She wiped her hands on the towel she was holding and ran to hug her daughter.
Staring past her shoulder at Ansem, she finally stepped up to him, examining him rather closely. "Where'd you did this one up at?" She said almost crudely, giving her daughter a smart-assed look before turning back to the tall white-haired man standing in her entrance hall.
Ansem stood up straight, extending one hand to the woman. " I am Ansem, scholar and former King of Hollow Bastion." he said impressively.
Kairi's mother gave him an astonished smile and shook his hand.
"You're getting better, nice catch." She poked her daughter in the side as she walked past her again toward the kitchen. "You kids look hassled, want some food?" She asked before she disappeared around the corner again.
"Yea, mom, that would be nice." Kairi called back.
She took Ansem's hand again and lead him to the stairs, climbing them quickly and heading straight for her bedroom. She found the bag she had left at Selphie's house on her bed, apparently she had brought it over after they had left with Arashi. She picked it up, shoving in some odd clothing and different things she thought she might need. If she was going to stay in Hollow Bastion for a few days, she was taking her own clothing for once.
She finished quickly and slung the bag over her shoulder, dragging Ansem back down the stairs with her and into the kitchen.
Her mother was just finishing up some sandwiches and put them in a bag along with a couple sodas. "I'm assuming you won't be staying long." She smiled almost sadly at her daughter, handing her the bag.
"Thanks, mom. I'll be back home in a couple days, I promise! I gotta go, take care!" She called back to the older woman as she pushed Ansem back into the hall and out the front door.
"Will you at least tell me where you're going!" Her mother called out in exasperation.
"Hollow Bastion! To help Sora and Ansem with some problems! I'll be good, I promise!" She smiled wickedly and waved at the older woman.
"Okay, honey! Be careful! Use protection!" Her mother called out from the doorstep, hands cupped around her mouth.
Kairi nearly stopped dead in her tracks, face burning from her mother's last statement. 'A little late..' She thought in embarrassment as Ansem laughed quietly.
A/n: Sorry the chapter was short, but at least it was a quick update! Just for you guys. I'm trying to bring back the original vitality the story seemed to have, but some things needed restored first. Long process, I see my writing as a form of art, and a rather crappy one in my opinion. Sadness. Please review.