Copyrights: All characters belong to Square Enix and Disney but the plot is mine and mine alone. Oh yeah, and Aozora, too.
Feature Songs: 'With or Without You' by U2, 'First Love' by Utada Hikaru
Enjoy this chapter! Seriously! And mind the language!
Secrets of Memories
Chapter 73: When the Love Falls
" If life couldn't get any worse…" Cloud muttered under his breath. He was apparently very bothered by the scene playing right outside the Accessories Shop.
A few minutes after the song had ended, Tidus had risen to his feet and walked straight to the sorceress-turned-sphere hunter, who collapsed into his arms, sobbing and repeatedly saying his name. He held her close, whispering words of comfort, while the blond teenager who was accompanying her had backed away into the counter. There was an odd expression on his face, easily matched by the look on the face of the auburn-haired girl who easily identified who he was.
Then Tidus had led Yuna outside and they heard hushed words pass between them, broken repeatedly by Yuna's tears. It was obvious she had been looking for him; she must have gotten a heart attack walking into the shop and finding her loved one, him, sitting on the couch with all the other people.
" Oh hush, you have no right in speaking about such matters," Aerith whispered back, giving him a warning glare. She made an almost-invisible gesture to her left with her head.
" Oh…"
There was a rather uncomfortable silence in the Accessories Shop. Cid had taken to fiddling with his radio – again – while Yuffie sat on the countertop and, for once, stopped banging her feet against it. Leon sat like a stone in the seat at the head of the coffee table. Kairi sat to the brunet's left as far as possible from Lorien and Kobi, who were both looking as troubled as the Princess of Heart. Opposite of them sat Cloud, Aerith, and the Keyblade Wielder, Aozora.
And then Cloud amazingly managed to grasp the complexity of the situation. In the few seconds that followed Aerith's subtle move, he saw the conflicts that were already rising between the four. Aozora and Kairi avoided each other's gaze but her face was unnaturally pink. Lorien was glaring at the two of them without even moving a muscle; Kobi was staring at her, looking painfully torn.
" Well, I finally found just the song for the mood of the discussion we're about to have-did I miss something?" Cid demanded, coming to a sudden stop as he left the storeroom where he had stored 'his precious'.
Yuffie glared at him some but Leon answered. " No, except for our two young lovers, but we do need to get on with the discussion. There was a reason His Majesty sent these two over to Traverse Town."
He then cleared his throat, snapping the concentration of the four young teenagers. They looked up, startled and rather embarrassed all at once. Leon ignored them, though, and said, " Let Tidus and Yuna spend a few minutes together; it's been two years – to them, I may add – but I'm not letting the rest of us getting off so easy. This is a meeting."
He then nodded to Cloud, who mouthed, " Me?", and glared back. Aerith poked him and the soldier sighed. " Okay, we have to know what happened to Kingdom Hearts. Aozora, did Riku seal the Keyhole?"
The poor teenager, whose eyes kept studying the teenager sitting across from him, looked up, startled. " Kingdom Hearts?"
See the stone set in your eyes
See the thorn twist in your side
I wait for you
Sleight of hand and twist of fate
On a bed of nails she makes me wait
And I wait…without you
Leon sighed, rubbing his face with his hand. This was going to take longer than he hoped it would.
With or without you
With or without you…
Aozora felt sheepish as he finally found his bearing and reported, " I know he found Kingdom Hearts in the Bell Tower. And I know there are fewer sightings of Heartless and Nobodies now. At least at Twilight Town. I don't know about other worlds, though."
Cloud nodded. " That's true. Sora's previous report on Hollow Bastion said that there's a huge army of Heartless assembling there-"
" The Heartless that are already in existence won't disappear easy," Aerith interjected. Cloud looked put-off. " Therefore we still have to deal with Ansem's army…and any other Heartless out there."
" We still have a fight on our hands," Leon spoke softly. " In order for Kingdom Hearts to really work, we need to eradicate all the Heartless-"
" That won't stop them," Lorien interjected coldly. Aozora stared at her, surprised by the chill in her voice. " Kingdom Hearts is their main gate but they are also born through the darkness already in existence. Only the Door of Light will banish them forever."
Door of Light…
Aozora grimaced, lowering his head. He didn't want to be reminded of something he had failed to do so far: protect Sora until he found the Door of Light.
Sora…Kairi…
Discretely he looked up, saw that everyone's attention – including hers – was now focused on the discussion between Lorien, Kobi, Cloud, and Aerith. He stared at her, studied her really, noticing what he had not seen the first time they met.
She was skinny, even skinnier than the last time they met. She had become so thin, so pale that he could clearly tell the strain was telling on her. But still, she was beautiful. Her paleness enhanced those intense violet-blue eyes that spoke with a thousand sorrows and wishes and gave the slight pink blush on her cheeks a vibrant glow. Her crimson hair had grown longer and her bangs were rendering her right eye invisible. The color was fiery, in contrast to her cool eyes, and made his insides squirm.
She was wearing new clothes, too, a white blouse over a purple skirt. Her long white socks stopped inches short of where her knees began and she was wearing new shoes, too, white with splashes of gray and red. His eyes trailed back up to her face, then all over her. If there was something he really hadn't noticed before, it was that her new clothes accented her body's natural curves and he couldn't help but follow them-
"…it really was too dangerous for Sora, Donald, and Goofy to venture to Hollow Bastion the way they did…"
He felt someone watching him, studying him. He looked up slowly and locked eyes with Kairi, then realized that she had been doing exactly the same thing. In each other's minds, they had become aesthetically beautiful sculptures to study and observe.
"…Cid, turn off the blasted radio and…"
And you give yourself away
And you give yourself away
And you give
And you give
And you give yourself away
With or without you
With or without you
I can't live
With or without you
"…we'll need to talk to the other two about this. Things are not looking up right now. Aozora?"
" Wha-oh, I know," Aozora stuttered, tearing his eyes away from Kairi's blushing face to look at the others. " I mean-wait, which other two? Tidus and Yuna? Or is there something you're hiding from me?"
Somehow Aozora created such a menacing glare as he spoke that the fact he was checking out Kairi wiped out of everyone's mind…except Lorien. She returned his glare coolly, more than used to his mood swings. But there was trouble written in her face, a fiery storm, and Aozora had to look away.
The others gave each other very confusing looks. " What are we hiding from you?"
Kobi was first to answer. " Maybe…Selphie and Merlin? I mean, have you heard…of…never mind."
He gave up trying to answer his baffled childhood friend.
Leon groaned. " This was totally pointless. However, there IS something I believe everyone here should know involving information an acquaintance of mine sent-"
Yuffie and Cid coughed and cleared their throats abruptly, while Kobi snorted into his hands and Lorien started struggling with her cold face. Leon scowled at them but knew he had to answer to Aozora and Kairi; neither of them knew his friend's identity. Then again, Aozora was truly left in the dark as he didn't know what the message was.
" I'll get them," Yuffie grinned wildly as she jumped off the counter and bounded for the doors.
Aozora sighed, using the momentary silence to lean back in the couch and stare up at the ceiling. The lights were…shiny.
He thought someone was calling his name. But the lights were…shiny, entrancing, rendering him oblivious to the outside world-
" Group meeting now?" Tidus asked as Yuffie brought them in.
" Once we get him back on track," Cloud muttered.
Aozora didn't hear him; the lights were becoming brighter, blurry even. Then suddenly-
" Wake up!" Lorien barked. Aozora jumped up and fell over the couch, landing in a painful heap on the ground. " Ow…"
" We'll need to discuss the information later; both Yuna and Aozora need to rest," Aerith sighed, shaking her head and smiling as the blond teenager staggered back to his feet. He smiled sheepishly as he eyed Tidus and Yuna, the latter who was yawning continuously.
" Good, I need people out of here!" Cid grumbled. " Damn kids, getting in the way of everything-"
" It's late; there's nothing to do here old man," Cloud retorted.
" Yeah, whatever kid." Cid waved him off. " Rooms are at the hotel in the Second District. Meet back here eight at night to start talking again."
" I…thought it was always night here," Tidus pointed out.
The look the blond man was giving him was enough to shut him up.
" Would you like the Green Room or the Blue Room?" Aerith asked kindly as everyone else stood up to file out of the Accessories Shop.
" Blue would be fine," Aozora answered quietly. There was something about today that dumbfounded him and he didn't have to look far to know why. " How long was Sora here?"
" Came after Riku and left before Kairi. He was here for maybe four or five days,' Aerith replied. " It's going to take longer getting from here to Hollow Bastion; the debris left by the Heartless' destruction is enough to slow them down."
" Oh…"
They filed out of the Accessories Shop as Cid went back to mess with his radio. Aozora blinked into the night; now the First District was completely empty and the last stanzas of the song was drifting into the night. Then someone placed a hand on his arm, stopping him in his tracks.
" I want to talk to you."
Briefly he saw Lorien look back at them and saw a frown form on her face. Then Kobi gently pushed her forward and she kept walking with the others. They were going up the stairs, to the Second District.
Aozora steeled himself around.
" What is it, Kairi?"
Yeah, we'll shine like stars in the summer night
We'll shine like stars in the winter light
One heart, one hope, one love
With or without you
With or without you
I can't live
With or without you
With or without you…
''
She blinked, looked at his face. For a moment her stomach churned with a thousand butterflies; just briefly she saw Sora, with his wild spiky hair and cheerful blue eyes. But just as quickly that vision vanished, replaced by the solemn wolf-like gaze of his brother. His brother!
Neither of them know the truth! How am I supposed to explain it to them? Especially…especially Sora…but what about Aozora? What's he going to say? How will this affect Sora's mission?
She bit her lip, suddenly unsure of why she decided to stop him. Should she tell him now or wait until after Leon explained his bit of news tomorrow? Either way, Aozora had to know.
" Kairi? What's wrong?" Aozora asked worriedly, taking a step forward.
She paled suddenly, instinctively backed away. She saw the worried look on his face but refused to meet his gaze and lose herself. What happened at In Between was enough; if anybody else knew, then word of it would reach Sora and then what would happen?
I'm the one at the center of a disaster waiting to happen. What I do…it'll hurt Sora. And if Sora gets hurt…we could fail. Why doesn't Aozora just stay away, so that Sora doesn't get hurt? Zexion told me enough; I'm his light and if I turn away now, it'll destroy him!
" Kairi?"
She bowed her head, so her red bangs shrouded her face. She shouldn't have stopped him, shouldn't have held him back! Why did she do that-
" Hearts would change as well."
No!
She looked up, her blue-violet eyes full of fear. Aozora stared at her, shocked.
" D-don't."
He took a step forward but she couldn't back away again.
" Kairi, what's-"
" S-stop. Don't c-come any closer," she stammered. It was so hard saying those words. She had to keep him away, for Sora's sake, but her heart felt so torn uttering such harsh words. " Please."
He froze, his hand reaching out, about to touch her face. Then he pressed the palm of his hand against her burning cheek and she felt herself relax, closed her eyes.
" Kairi, tell me. What's wrong?"
What am I doing?
And then she remembered the bond. Sora and Kairi were connected. If something happened to her heart, would he feel the change as well?
Fear. She had never felt fear like this before.
" Aozora, don't." She backed away and his hand fell to his side. " Please. I'm sorry I stopped you. Just go."
She knew he was hurt, he was lost, he was confused. But she couldn't explain it to him, not after In Between, not after the hours and days after they went their own paths, not after when they saw each other again.
It would only break his heart. Like it would break mine. Like it broke Sora's. Oh why did Sally have to say those words?
A tear fell, dotting the cobblestone floor.
" Kairi-"
" Go." Her voice came out stronger. She had to do this, she had to do. She looked up at him, her eyes bright, the tears streaming down her face. " Go away. Aozora, you can't help me. Just go."
" But-"
" Stop it! Don't you get it? You're confusing me, Aozora! And whatever happens to me happens to Sora, too! Our hearts are connected, even if I lost his voice long ago! If you come in between us and break that bond, it'll destroy him! Just go away! Just…go!"
She thought something was wrong while she was climbing up the silver pathway to the three doors back at Deep Tranquility. It was like a presence within her, watching her. She had never felt such foreign sorrow.
Then Zexion told her everything.
" I can't," he whispered, hurt but struggling to find his bearing. " I can't go away, Kairi. I-"
" Stop saying my name," she sobbed, covering her face with her hands. " Stop it. You look just like him, you sound a lot like him, you remind me of him! I haven't seen him for a year and missed him by several hours yesterday. You know how much I missed him? But you came into the picture…and I'm lost! It's all because of you! It's your fault! You're the one who's going to destroy Sora!"
She ran past him, running up the stairs and into the Second District. She ran down the stairs to the right and collapsed by the silent fountain, sobbing.
She felt her heart break in two.
""
"…I suppose it may have been wrong to tell her what Sora saw in the waters of the fountain in the Second District," Zexion said calmly, carefully choosing his words as he looked at his younger friend. Aozora was staring at his hands, fidgeting slightly, bothered intensely by yesterday. " I saw everything. It wasn't pretty. He misunderstood, Aozora."
" But not Kairi." His voice was a whisper, strained, wracked with a hurt too painful to explain. " She…understood…everything."
" Her connection to Sora is latent," Zexion said plainly as he blew out the candle on the table in the First District Café. He had been entertaining himself in this way for many days until Aozora came; the candles had a strange way of staying lit and will come back to life seconds after the fire was blown out. " His connection, though…has awaken. I'm beginning to suspect something reminded him of the debacle I proudly and with all due shame call 'Castle Oblivion'."
" How does that start the connection working again?" Aozora asked, curious.
" I don't know. Like Naminé said, memories work in strange ways. Of course Sora and Kairi could be the exception. It's not just memories that link them. I guess it just has something to do with the paupu fruit legends on Destiny Islands…and the fact he's the Keyblade Master and she's the most powerful Princess of Heart. Now, the fact that you're also a Keyblade Master brings up some very interesting points that I've been thinking about since yesterday-"
" She hates me," Aozora interrupted. He spoke with such intensity that Zexion stopped and stared at him. " She hates me…because I remind her of Sora. She doesn't know what to do, Zexion. I heard Cid talking to some of the others; he heard us, and he knows something's up. Leon thinks…if something goes seriously wrong, Sora won't be the only one destroyed."
" Love is such a finicky thing," Zexion sighed. Aozora looked up, startled.
" I don't love her!" he protested. " That's not it-"
" Then what is it?" the blue-haired man smiled wryly at his friend's muted protest. " I can see some things plain as day. You're lovestruck and you don't know what in Hades to do. She's in love but the scales are continuously tipping one way and another way. And Sora's mad at the world. As far as I can tell, he hates you."
" He hates me?" Aozora asked weakly.
" You came into his world, upturned it completely," Zexion replied nonchalantly as he surveyed the scenery of Traverse Town. " You look like him, you've been around King Mickey and his friends, you've turned traitor on the Society, you use Keyblades, you countered his movements, you both have attitude problems, and…well…you both fell for the same girl."
" I…I don't-"
" Stop lying. Gods, Aozora, you frustrate me sometimes. Keep denying it and I'll be forced to take drastic measures. You do NOT want that to happen. Now that we're done with that, I need to talk to you about Lorien-"
A chill ran up Aozora's arms and he stared at Zexion. Not Lorien! As dully as possible, he asked. " What about Lorien?"
Zexion didn't answer. Instead he drummed his fingers on the table, staring intently at the flames. The look on his face seemed to read: How does the candle stay lit despite all the odds against it? I don't understand.
" Zexion?"
The fingers kept drumming.
" You have a good way of making enemies out of allies, Aozora."
" What!"
" I must admit I thought my life was misery. But now that we've talked for a bit since we split ways years ago, I see your life's pure misery. How does it feel having very important allies hate your guts to hell while Axel's hell-bent on masterminding your demise by his own hand?"
Aozora groaned. " Axel? You just had to-"
" Things are going to get worse, Aozora." Zexion's voice dropped to a whisper. " Tomorrow you're leaving Traverse Town. I'd prefer you leave tonight but Leon has some very important issues to discuss with us. It's something I've heard once in passing long ago. His sorceress friend has discovered something."
The very last word was spoken in a voice filled with dread and chill.
" What do you mean by 'something'?"
Zexion looked both ways. " I said the Society allied themselves with Ansem and the Advocate, right? They want to kill Sora. But it's not just because of the fact he's the Keyblade Master, oh no. It's unfortunate for them that you escaped the Society. Now they'll have to pursue Sora…"
Was Zexion going mad?
"…I didn't think it would happen," he kept talking. " But somehow they managed to start some chain reaction with Riku. Well first they captured you, then worked on Riku, because he's closest to the darkness. I would have it that you go now but Leon wants us to discuss the situation at hand. Perhaps the Society wants it that way…or something worse…"
Aozora sighed, stood up, and looked at the clock. It was nearly seven-thirty.
" Thirty minutes until the meeting," Aerith called out as she walked by with Cloud. " Zexion, find Merlin, Lorien, and Kobi. Leon, Yuffie, and Cid's waiting in the store already. We're out finding our two lovebirds right now."
" What about-"
" He's doing it," Cloud interrupted Zexion's question. The cold blue eyes glared at Aozora's bronze gaze. Aerith looked at him, startled. It was obvious she hadn't planned on Cloud saying such a thing. And the look on Zexion's face was a mixture of humor and horror. " He's going to bring her in. That's the only way things will work."
He walked on, leaving Aerith, Zexion, and a mystified Aozora staring after him. And then it dawned on him. No…
Zexion smiled at him sadly. " Good luck."
" What?" Aozora sputtered. " Wha-why-what does that mean!"
The blue-haired man left, leaving him alone with Aerith. Aozora looked at her helplessly, feeling very much like a little boy going up to the cashier to order something for the first time. " Aerith…what do I do?"
The woman had a kind smile as she turned to him. Poor Aozora looked so lost…it almost broke her heart.
" Talk to her. If anything else, mend the rift. You made a mistake in failing to fix the distance between you and Sora. Don't make the mistake again."
She sighed, staring up at the Second District door. " I can feel her pain. She's hurt, Aozora. If anything, she needs Sora. But he's not here, is he? You have to go to her, Aozora. You have to. If I were Queen I would've ordered you to."
Aozora sighed, staring down at the floor. Something strange was coursing his veins. " Aerith, I'm…I'm scared. I'm so scared, Aerith. I don't want to make another mistake. Not with her."
Aerith understood immediately. " You love her."
Three simple words. He looked up and a protest began to form on his lips.
She shook her head. " No, do not protest, do not question me. Question yourself Aozora. Do you love her? There is no other explanation for why the two of you have parted ways so abruptly last night. As for her…I will not say. That is her matter. I speak yours. You have thirty minutes. Like you said, don't make a mistake."
And Aozora was left all alone, floundering in a sea of despair.
""
Yuna smiled, staring at the stars in Traverse Town's night sky. It was as though someone had broken a pitcher of shimmering dust and scattered them all over a canvas painted midnight blue.
" It's so beautiful," she whispered, as a night breeze wove its way around her.
" Yes, so beautiful," Tidus agreed dreamily. He wasn't talking about the stars.
" I wish nights were like this back home at Spira," the gunner sighed, looking down. The waters of the sewers were eerily clean tonight; she could see the weaving of cracks in the stone ground under the clear water.
" That reminds me of the Thunder Plains…"
She giggled, remembering the number of times Tidus had to dodge the lightning bolts as they all ran through the Thunder Plains, even Rikku, who was scared of lightening. No one had an explanation for a singed and furious Tidus as to why only he attracted them. " But it's not storming, is it? It's so peaceful…"
" Like the quiet before the storm."
Yuna looked at Tidus, astonished. " What are you saying?"
Tidus looked down solemnly. " I don't know how long I'll be here. I don't even know what the Fates are doing with me. You know, Yuna, I really wasn't even supposed to exist. How did the Fates discover a life thread for me?"
She blinked, then realized what he was saying. " I'm not going to leave you, Tidus. Not now, not ever. The Fates brought you back to this world and you'll stay in this world-"
" I always wondered about life on Destiny Islands. Was I real then or was I real until I was thrown out of my world into the Dream Zanarkand? There are so many questions…who can answer them all?"
" Then don't ask. Just be thankful, thankful that you're here alive…" Yuna sighed, sidling to him and laying her head on his shoulder. "…after two years of absence. I've waited so long…and then things came up. Like the debacle with the two lovers a thousand years ago back at Spira and the Heartless."
" The Heartless." Tidus formed a fist. " They destroyed everything."
" But think it this way," Yuna whispered in his ear. " If it weren't for them, I'd have never met you."
The first was still stiff, then relaxed. A faint smile appeared on the tanned face. " You're right. Maybe the coming of the Heartless was good in a way…"
" I know," she whispered. Daringly, she lifted a hand to his face and her fingers ran up and down the side of it. He closed his eyes and she felt him relax.
" We should go to the meeting."
" I know."
They didn't move. And then…
" Looks like Cid found another song."
" He loves the radio…"
Saigo no kisu wa
Tabako no flavor ga shita
Nigakute setsunai kaori
(The last kiss
Tasted like tobacco
A bitter and sad smell)
" And he's a sucker for sappy songs," Tidus finished as he looked down where the sewer water flowed from the Secret Place. Something flashed by. " What the-"
That child! The child of the Fayth! What are they doing-no…
" Tidus, what's wrong?" Yuna asked worriedly, seeing his face pale. She stood up straight and looked over the balcony of the Red Room. " I don't see any-"
" Wait here, Yuna," Tidus said tersely. A second later he had thrown himself over the balcony and landed gracefully on the floor. He made just a step to follow the child in blue when someone landed behind him.
" Don't leave me, Tidus. I'm going with you."
" Yuna, I-"
" I'm a gunner. Not a sorceress anymore but I do know how to use guns. You wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of me, Tidus. Trust me."
He nodded grimly, but felt too badly to tell her what he saw. What he might have seen. " Follow me."
He walked hurriedly down the alleyway, listening to the water ripple and toss against the walls of the stream. Where was that Fayth child?
Over here…
He hurried his pace and Yuna quickened to keep up. The voice, it came around the corner. But why-
He turned the corner and everything around him dissolved into haze and mist. He turned around, didn't see Yuna. " Yuna!"
" She won't hear you. Not yet." The dark-skinned child in blue appeared in front of him. Tidus backed away quickly, then anger took over.
" What do you want with me?"
" Relax, we're-"
" Leave me alone! Haven't you done enough to me already? Thanks to you, my life was misery! And just when I get my bearings you bump in! Just leave me alone!"
" Listen!"
Tidus shut up as the child approached him. Around him, hazy faces appeared as well. Faces…like Jecht…and his mother…
" We are not here to take you away. No, you HAVE done enough for us. We are only here to give our thanks for helping the dreams sleep. We were the ones who asked the Fates to fashion a special thread for you. Then we fused your dream into the thread, bringing you back to life. Yes, Tidus, this is our way of saying thanks."
" I…" Tidus was utterly speechless. " Well, um…sorry for the outburst."
" No need. You misunderstood completely. This may be the last time we meet, as you are no longer a dream. A new life awaits you…but all of you will have to go through a series of trials to reach that life. Let the dreams help you along, for the days to come are the darkest days."
" Are you…warning me?"
" We help our brethren and you are still one of us," the child spoke. " But we will no longer interfere with your life. Your fate…is out of our hands. Farewell Tidus son of Jecht, and a good life and a good luck."
He waved and suddenly the haze disappeared. And Tidus was standing in the alleyway in front of a townhouse as Yuna ran up to him. " Tidus, what's wrong?"
" I, uh, um…" Great, how was he to explain this?
" Funny, I don't see anything?" Yuna looked around, thankfully missing the shocked look on his face. " Hey, what's in that house? Maybe it's the Dalmatian house Aerith and Yuffie mentioned before-"
Tidus stepped forward, and pulled her to him. Their bodies met as he cupped her face in his hands.
" T-Tidus?" Yuna whispered. Her eyes were wide with surprise.
He smiled once, before leaning over and kissing her.
Ashita no imagoro ni wa
Anata wa doko ni iru n' darou
Dare wo omotte ru n' darou
(Tomorrow, at this time
where will you be?
Who will you be thinking about?)
''
Misery loves company. And she was its companion.
Kairi sighed as she sat on the ledge of the silent fountain, staring at the waters, at her reflection. Her hair, she noticed, had grown much longer than she anticipated. Maybe she should cut it short-
Don't ever change.
She shuddered, bringing her arms around her body as she continued to stare at her reflection.
Hearts change with time.
" Change…is that what's in my heart? Change?" she whispered to herself but the reflection gave no reply.
The meeting would be in thirty minutes but she didn't want to go. It was fear, fear that kept her in the Second District, whispering to herself as she sat – unknowingly – in the exact same spot as Sora did days ago. Fear of facing the others over the events of last night. Fear of meeting him.
She felt her heart jump, placed a hand over her heart. It was pounding fiercely; just the mere thought of him churned her inside and left her feeling winded, lost, and confused.
How could he do this to me? Just a thought and this happens. Why? Why? WHY?
But even before her conscience could answer she replied herself.
Do I love him? We met only once before…how could such a thing like this happen with just one meeting? Oh Sora, I'm so sorry, so terribly sorry…
She felt a tear escape her tightly closed eyes and she opened her eyes to see the water ripple. And when it stilled, she saw she was no longer alone-
Screaming, she jumped up and backed away, her heart beating painfully. Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no…
" I'm sorry," Aozora muttered sheepishly, jamming his hands in his pockets and looking away.
" What are you doing here?" she asked, then winced at the uncharacteristic harshness in her voice.
" I…I'm supposed…" he seemed to fumble with his words, looked embarrassed. " Supposed…the meeting….thirty minutes…"
" I'm not going."
Aozora whipped his head around and stared at her. " What!"
" I said I'm not going," Kairi repeated, feeling her body shake under his gaze. She rubbed her arm, suddenly nervous. What's wrong with me? Is it true, is it true that- " I already know what Leon's going to talk about. He showed me the message first. I don't have to go."
" Oh…"
Silence, except for the loudspeakers in the First District…
You were always gonna be my love
Itsu ka dare ka to mata koi ni ochite mo
I'll remember to love
You taught me how
You were always gonna be the one
Ima wa mada kanashii love song
Atarashii uta utaeru made
(You were always gonna be my love
Even if I fall in love with someone else again
I'll remember to love
You taught me how
You were always gonna be the one
It's still a sad love song
Until I can sing a new song)
" Um…" Aozora shifted on his feet, clearly uncomfortable. Kairi sighed, looked away, wishing he'd just go away.
" Go. I gave my answer. You need to go to the meeting."
She turned away, expecting footsteps drifting away from her. Only silence met her.
" No."
" Didn't you hear me?" she said, sudden anger coursing in her veins. Just leave me alone to wallow in my thoughts! " You have to go to this meeting! You can't-"
" I need to talk to you. You know what the meeting's about. You could tell me, can't you?"
Kairi shook her head, refused to turn around. " No. Go to Leon. He'll tell you everything. Just leave me alone, Aozora. Go…just go away."
Footsteps. They were coming toward her. Fear filled her and she shook involuntarily. She refused to turn around, though; she stubbornly stared at the wall before her, hoping the footsteps would simply walk away and leave her alone.
What are you afraid of? Her conscience had awoken, had a few seconds to slip in choice words.
What are you talking about? I'm afraid of nothing! I just want him to go away and leave me alone-
Her conscience laughed at her. You are afraid of yourself. You've waited so long for Sora, and for long you have held all your 'other' emotions within, unable to express them. But now you've been feeling something different yes?
Mentally she scowled. Shut up!
The laughing was still there, the darker side of her mind. Too many emotions fill you. Just the right trigger…and the ones you don't want will seep through. You are afraid, Kairi, of your love. You still hold your love for Sora but someone else is there. That is the person you are afraid of, because you fear that being with him would make you face the truth.
She closed her eyes tightly, tried to block out the nagging voice. Shut up! I hate you! Leave me alone!
The truth is, Kairi, you love him, and you're too afraid to face it-
" Shut up!" Kairi cried out, sobbing. " I hate you! I hate you! Go away! That's not true! That's NOT true!"
She shook violently, covered her face with her hands and sobbed. Torn, she had never felt so much pain, like her very being was being ripped in two-
Oh no. Aozora's here. He heard. Oh no…
A hand touched her shoulder. She shied away involuntarily but the hand still gripped her slim shoulder. It forced her to turn around and she found herself staring at shoes, dark shoes with red straps.
" Stop it-"
" Do you hate me?"
Hate. A cold word, bringing a shudder through her body. No, more than a shudder; it brought a needle of pain into her heart.
What's happening to me?
" Kairi, do you hate me?"
She didn't know what to do, what to say? What was she to say?
" Just…" her voice came out a weak murmur. "…go away. Go away, Aozora…"
" No."
She bit her lip, suddenly touched upon iron on the tip of her tongue. " Leave me alone…"
She felt his hands take hold of her shoulders. " Kairi, look at me."
She shook her head.
" Look at me!"
" Let me go!" she yelled. " Go away, Aozora! Get away from me! I hate you! I-"
The pain came rushing back and she almost fell as her knees went weak.
What's going on? What's wrong with me?
" I see…"
" Why won't you go away," she found herself whispering. " Wherever I go, you're always there. I see you, I hear you, I feel you. You're always following me…never leaving me alone…never…"
" Kairi."
She shuddered. " Don't say my name."
Faintly she felt his grip tighten on her shoulders. Anger, she could feel it radiate from him-
He pushed her against the wall, kept one hand firmly on her shoulder, and the other hand went under her chin, forcing her to look up. Through her blurry vision she saw his face…and realized what her words had done to him.
He looked so incredibly distraught. No, more than distraught. Her mind floundered, desperately searching for words that would put a name on the look on his face. Her heart lurched; he had seemed so sad and solemn before but now…Her mind screamed with pain and regret at what she had done to him. His bronze eyes were shiny, too shiny with the tears that couldn't run. His lip trembled slightly but he refused to look away.
" Do you hate me?"
Four simple words. One simple question. How could it hurt so much?
Tachidomaru jikan ga
Ugoki-dasou to shite 'ru
Wasuretaku nai koto bakari
(The pausing time is
About to start moving
There's many things that I don't want to forget about)
" H-hate you?" She found it so difficult to speak, not with the pain and hurt she inflicted to the person in front of her, someone she cared about, maybe too much.
" Do you hate me, Kairi? Do you hate me that much? Tell me truthfully. I don't want to leave knowing I made another enemy. I've made too many, and it's the only reason why Sora's so far away from me…"
Another enemy…is that what's become of these two brothers? A conflict of interest and a sense of deception…and they are enemies? How could it have come to this?
" Please, Kairi. I-I can't stand it if you hate me like this. I can't. Just…please, don't hate me like this. I can't…not you…"
He finally looked away, as a crystalline teardrop slid down his cheek and fell.
" Aozora…" she murmured, raising a hand to his face. He flinched at the touch but relaxed slightly as she touched the trail of the tear and wiped it away. " I'm so sorry…"
Her hand slid down to the place just over his heart. Underneath she felt his heart, could feel it beat with pain and…what was this? There was something else, beating in tandem with his heart, radiating heat.
" What-"
" It's my scar. It is a brand, the mark of a traitor," Aozora spoke quietly, trembling under her hand. " Sometimes it's like that. I wish I knew why…"
" Oh…"
Ashita no imagoro ni wa
Watashi wa kitto naite 'ru
Anata wo omotte 'ru n' darou
(Tomorrow, at this time
I will probably be crying
I will probably be thinking about you)
She looked up at him, risked it, and before she knew it, she was lost in the bronze eyes that made him who he was. Sora's brother. An individual. A Keyblade Master. And the Light's last hope.
" Kairi."
Her name echoed with his voice. His hand rested under her chin, had her face tilted up to him.
" Please…don't hate me. This is too much…I can't stand it if-if you hated me like Sora did. Sora's one thing. But you…"
His breath brushed against her face as he drew near. She could feel the heat of his body as he took a step closer, forcing her against the wall. She felt herself tremble; she could see herself reflected in his eyes, could see herself watching him with a sadness and a longing she could not recognize.
Why?
And the answer came.
" I…I care about you, Kairi. I can't let you go, can't push you out of my mind, my thoughts. The promise I made…it haunts me wherever I go. I know…I know this is wrong, this shouldn't happen, but what can you do…when something happens, something you don't notice until it's too late, and you could do nothing about it? That's how some things happened, that's why…"
He drifted off, didn't finish.
He loves me.
" Please." His voice was a mere whisper, begging for forgiveness, for acceptance. " Please, just…be with me."
Her heart beat painfully at the words. Aozora was alone in this world…and she was his only link to the allies he had alienated. His only link to reality…and someone he had come to love.
" I will," she murmured before she could stop herself.
Silence. For only a second.
You will always be inside my heart
Itsu mo anata dake no basho ga aru kara
I hope that I have a place in your heart, too
Now and forever you are still the one
Ima wa mada kanashii love song
Atarashii uta utaeru made
(You will always be inside my heart
You will always have your own place
I hope that I have a place in your heart, too
Now and forever you are still the one
It's still a sad love song
Until I can sing a new song)
He came closer. Kairi felt her heart pounding in her ear as his eyes drifted to her lips. Then instinct overwhelmed her and she closed her eyes. Seconds later, Aozora pressed his lips against hers and fire flashed. Kairi trembled as his tongue pushed into her. She offered no resistance, gave way as he pressed her against the wall, deepening the forbidden kiss. She could feel the fire behind the kiss, pent-up emotions that stormed through him and into her. She felt herself well up with the same emotions as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him even closer, until her body molded into his and they became one.
They broke apart for only a moment, then Kairi whispered his name, and Aozora could only answer by diving even deeper into her, her very essence. He wanted her, wanted her so badly, but she knew he was holding back. Once again he was denying himself the very things he wanted, longed for. The least she could do was ease the tormenting pain within him…and herself.
She murmured his name repeatedly as the flames grew hotter. An unexplainable warmth began to form as their hips brushed, as he pressed her more forcefully against the wall. And then it dawned on her. She wanted him, she wanted him just as badly. And all thoughts of Sora banished from her mind.
Time seemed locked in eternity. It did not matter. They had each other and that was all that mattered.
You were always gonna be my love
Itsu ka dare ka to mata koi ni ochite mo
I'll remember to love
You taught me how
You were always gonna be the one
Mada kanashii love song
Now and forever…
(You were always gonna be my love
Even if I fall in love with someone once again
I'll remember to love
You taught me how
You are always gonna be the one
It's still a sad love song
Now and forever…)
" I'll never forgive myself for this," she whispered a moment before he nipped at her bottom lip. Aroused by her gasp of pain, Aozora pressed his lips against hers, intent on exploring her mouth again –
Doors opened. Aozora pulled back abruptly, looked up with fear to the doors of the Second District. Over his shoulder, Kairi saw two people emerge from the shadows next to the white factory.
Too late. She heard Lorien's cold voice, felt it suck up all the warmth she had felt.
" Oh…sorry."
She saw the looks of shock on Tidus and Yuna's faces.
" Kairi? Aozora? What…"
She shivered, cold cruel fear rushing through her. Aozora wrapped his arms around her, held her briefly, then pushed her away, stepping back to face the two people up on the second floor.
" Lorien-"
" Why?" Her voice rang like steel, echoing off the walls.
" That's not-"
" Just taking Sora's place, are you?"
Aozora flinched at the comparison and anger flashed in his eyes. " I said-"
" You fucking yellow bastard," she hissed, her fiery eyes blazing. " Stealing her, are you? You don't even know what's going on."
" She says he doesn't know what's going on," Kobi muttered, though his face remained impassive and icy.
Aozora was silent. He did not know how to counter her accusations. He couldn't even make out what she was trying to imply.
" Leave him alone," Kairi whispered. Her heart couldn't bear the ugly hatred she knew she caused. But Lorien remained undeterred. Kairi knew the girl was not forgiving. " Hasn't he gone through enough, already-"
" You stay out of this, you cheating whore," Lorien snarled. Her hand rested on the pommel of her large sword. " You have no idea what's going on, you don't know what's happened between us-"
" Don't call her that."
Lorien froze. Kairi saw Aozora shake, felt the rage radiating off of him.
" You don't know everything," he said, his voice low. " You don't know me, my pain, my suffering. You don't know what I had gone through, how changed I've become. So many hate me. Fate abandoned me. Your feelings for me have turned you to stone. Who are you Lorien? I don't even know how to begin. You're just like the others, cold, coldhearted, with nothing but anger and hatred for who I am, for what I was not. And the one person I care for I can't love. What right have you to take away the last remnants of my sanity?"
" It's called Paradise, the Door of Light," Kobi spoke. He was angry, too, angry at what was taking place between Aozora, Lorien, and Kairi. " But still, what right have you to-"
No!
"-take the one your brother loves?"
Silence.
" What?" Yuna's voice gasped.
Kairi closed her eyes tightly, bowed her head. It was there, the painful throbbing within her, what was called truth, a dark, painful truth.
" My…brother?" Aozora struggled to comprehend. " What do you…he's alive?"
" Those who died still live among the lost of the living," Tidus uttered neutrally, trying to maintain an uneasy calm between the Keyblade Master and his former childhood friends. " Your parents are still alive…as enemies. The Angel and the Advocate. Kairi knows."
Aozora turned to her, helpless. She refused to meet his gaze, said softly, " Your brother is Sora. The Keyblade Master, the one who hates you, is your twin. The Advocate is your father, the Angel your mother. It is by the grace of the Angels that the Keyblades chose you. But more than that, both of you inherited your mother's good heart and an inner grace so few have in this world."
" Advocate? Angel? Sora?" If there was one word to describe the look on his face, it was defeat. The mysteries have come into light but the light they shed was full of darkness.
" The Advocate, the Society, and Ansem will kill Sora," Kairi whispered, looking up to the sky. Everyone focused on her; they realized this was Leon's message from his friend, " Long ago, the Prophet made a gate to seal Light and Darkness. The first King of Light, the very first Keyblade Master, then cut himself with his Keyblade and let the blood spill on the gate, locking it. No key will open the gate and break the seal. Only blood."
" Sora…"
Yuna bowed her head as she finally understood how great the situation was, how much more deadly it had become.
" The gate is at Hollow Bastion. Halocanis and Shadowrenis sleep. Maleficent thought to overcome the blood pact with our hearts; she did not understand that our hearts are connected to Kingdom Hearts. And so…Ansem hid his army…so that Riku would send a message to Sora, saying that the castle was clear. If…"
" If you don't get there in time, Shadowrenis and Halocanis will be released at the price of Sora's life," Kobi finished sharply.
" Caught between a rock and a hard place," Lorien intoned. " And you have made it all the worse. You've doomed us to death, slow and swift. But even if you change the tides, I won't forgive you. I'll NEVER forgive you. Goodbye."
She turned and strode out the doors, leaving others to stare after her. Kobi sighed. " You were our friend. How many more hearts must you break, how many more friends must be turned against your very existence before it is all over? Think about it, Aozora."
Ansem's son turned to go.
" You won't be seeing again for a long time. I'll make sure not to see your face."
And only Tidus and Yuna were left, to ponder and to think. Kairi turned to Aozora, her bottom lip trembling. He only shook his head, a sad smile forming on his face. " The three of us were fools to think we could remain friends when we're all so different. But I'm an even bigger fool."
She knew what he was implying, what he couldn't say with words. " It's not your fault…Aros."
He turned to her, shocked, but she continued, " Someone once told me that hearts change. Time is what forces us all apart. It's not your fault, Aros, nor is it Sora's… nor mine."
Tidus looked away and his grip on Yuna's hand tightened.
He still had that sad smile. " Remember my promise, Kairi? Remember what I said?"
She nodded. She then reached for his hand and took it, holding it above her heart. " You said you'd bring Sora back to me."
" Whatever happens," he began, then stopped. It was there, a single line from her heart through his arm and into his own. Then he could feel her heart, felt it pulsing in his own, a presence full of strength, light, sorrow, and love. " Whatever happens, I'll bring him back. We'll tell him everything…and maybe the rift will mend."
She nodded again, though her heart filled with a sense of dread. How will Sora-
" There's always a way. Always a light. Always a hope." Aozora pulled her to him and held her tightly in his arms. " And we will be whole. Sora will find the Door of Light…and peace will be ours."
Kairi bowed her head, then looked up and immersed herself in the sad hope she could see in his bronze eyes. Then Aozora gently kissed her on the lips and stepped back. He then turned to Tidus and Yuna.
" Tell Leon I'm going. Zexion was right. I need to leave now. Thank you, Yuna."
With all her heart, Kairi thought, as he climbed the stairs and quietly left the Second District, Come back to me, the both of you. I'll be waiting, always waiting.
A presence in her heart whispered.
We will. I'll bring him back. I promise.
A tear fell down her face. She turned to Tidus and Yuna, smiling, as the tears streamed down silently.
" What do I do?" she whispered, almost too quietly to hear.
Suddenly Kairi crumpled to the floor against the wall, covering her face and sobbing. She sensed Tidus and Yuna running to her but she ignored them. The pain was unbearable, the dread, despair, fear pounding in her head.
" What do I do? What have I done?"
Author's Note: If you were expecting something after this, you're all in for a big surprise. I cannot guarantee any previews for the upcoming chapters, as stated previously. Oh and please check my Bio page for recent updates, thank you. Long reviews and questions are preferred but give me all you got and I'll be thankful. Thank you!
And yes, it has come…the end of the beginning, or the beginning of the end…