Sora looked up in sheer awe at the spectacle before him. They had decided to give Rapunzel and Flynn some space, so he, Donald, and Goofy were watching the lantern festival from a pier, but that did not make it any less mesmerizing.
Having hundreds if not thousands of lanterns lighting the night sky made for a breathtaking sight as the whole kingdom showed its support for the lost princess. It was something Sora was glad that he was able to share with friends, but looking out over the water, Sora could not help the twinge of jealousy that crept up on him.
Seeing Flynn and Rapunzel out on the boat put the night in a different context. As great as it was here with his pals, his mind kept superimposing himself and a certain redhead onto the boat. It would have been a great environment to finally confess his not so hidden feelings.
This made Sora stifle a sigh. He did not want to sully the mood, but it was something that kept bothering him. Life kept getting in the way, and now Kairi was off training in a world he could not readily reach while he was trying to make up for what happened during his exam. That left little time to confess his love to the girl of his dreams. At least most of the time he was too busy to have time to think too much about it.
However, in the peace of the festival under the stars, he had trouble keeping those thoughts at bay. He would never let it show, both to keep his friends from worrying and to prevent the nigh endless teasing that would ensue – he did not need a repeat of their last little adventure.
At least he knew she was safe. With Merlin's magic keeping them hidden, there was virtually no way any of the dark forces could reach her. For that, he was exceptionally grateful. It was a massive bit of peace of mind that he desperately wanted. That said, he was eager to put this business with Xehanort behind him so that he could finally look forward.
Because, for all his desire for adventure, he had found that what he wanted more than anything was to live out his days with her by his side. He barely held off a blush at the thought, but it was the truth he knew in his heart. She was the one, and he wanted her to know that even if he had trouble broaching the subject.
He smiled wider as he looked back upwards. Maybe he would bring her here. Rapunzel said they did it every year, and he just knew that Kairi would love it. Yep, he was definitely bringing her. Just another thing he wanted to show her. There was so much he would love her to see. Things he wanted to share with her. Sharing with friends was great, so sharing with her was obviously so much more.
Assuming she still felt that way about him. His heart just could not let that one go it seemed. For as confident as he acted, he did have his doubts, and the idea of not being with her was almost more than he could bear. He would always protect her no matter what of course, but he would rather do that as…more than a friend. Even thinking it threatened a blush, and he was not alone.
He was being silly he hoped. He avoided bringing it up usually, but if he did, that's what all his friends would say in some fashion, so he wanted to believe them. Oh, how he wanted nothing more than to believe them. He felt so close to finally ending this and finally getting that time with Kairi he craved more than anything. Ever since this had started, their time together had been fleeting, but it had also been precious. His fondest memories in a sea of good and bad memories that made up his adventures.
However, it was not his only fear. He was terrified of her going to fight even if he tried to be supportive of her efforts. Not that she had really talked to him about them seeing as she left the tower before he got done pulling himself together.
Kairi was too good for combat as far as he was concerned. Fighting hurt. It hurt physically, mentally, and emotionally at times, and he just did not want her to have to experience those things. He would take twice the punishment if it protected her from the horrors of combat.
He knew he was being selfish. He knew they needed her to fill out their ranks and it was a very selfless and courageous thing for her to do which he just adored about her. Why this though? Did he drive her to this by not being good enough? No, she probably would have done this either way. It was just how she was. She liked to be out doing things. Waiting was never her style, and she had been forced to do it for so long now. He knew better than to try and convince her not to fight, but it still made his stomach churn thinking that something might happen to her. What if he never even got the chance to finally tell her? What if…what if one of them did not make it? What if she…died?
He would tell her. He would work up the nerve. He did not want to risk having to be apart again without telling her. He would do everything within his power to keep her safe. He was not sure if he could live with himself if she got hurt or worse. A life without Kairi was not a life he wanted to live.
But, as he got up and summoned his keyblade at the newfound distraction, he realized it would have to wait. Today he would need to worry about his duties so that he could reunite with her. He would have to tell her another day.