CHAPTER 5 – Belle
They're staying too long at Belle and Adam's castle. Roxas knows this, but he can't find motivation to do anything about it. Staying here has been great. The right mix of restful and fun.
When they first arrived, he and Kairi were late. They had slept in at Agrabah after their stressful night. They reached the next world later in the evening which meant they didn't get to do anything on their intended list. The only apology Belle would accept from Kairi was for her and her friend to go straight to bed and sleep in until they felt like getting up. Roxas put up no fight. He was sure the two of them had looked awful, complete with bags under their eyes and thrown together appearance. Everything was put off until tomorrow.
Tomorrow came around and the two rulers of that world pulled out all the stops for making their guests comfortable. A massive spread of food had been prepared first thing. Roxas had no idea someone could make a brunch feast. After that, Kairi and Roxas were given a tour of the palace, taken on a horseback riding jaunt (which Roxas still hasn't gotten the hang of—horseback riding, not his thing) to explore the castle grounds and surrounding forest, and introduced to Maurice and his latest invention. (The contraption appeared somewhat dangerous, but the older gentleman reassured his guests that it was harmless—as long as they stayed in that far corner and didn't move while the contraption was in motion.)
That evening, they ate pastries and drank tea by the fireplace in the library. Roxas had almost fallen asleep from the combination of cozying up by the fireplace and hot tea in his system. Kairi too. That is why she asked Belle if they might perform the connection ceremony then before retiring, but Belle decided on the next day. She herself had grown weary after all their activities and was in no shape for the ceremony tonight.
The next day, however, it turns out the queen has another activity planned.
Roxas has risen early this morning with it in mind that he and Kairi would be gone by early this afternoon. Yet the moment he comes downstairs and sees the two royal ladies each eagerly packing a day bag, his expectations are dashed.
"There he is," Adam announces from the door. He had been giving instructions to a footman for how the day shall go while he is away. "Come, Roxas. We will be leaving soon."
"Where are we going?" Roxas asks when he reaches those gathering.
Kairi hands him his own knapsack. "We're making a trip into town," she says. She stands a little taller and does a half-twirl which makes her borrowed forest green frock sways about her ankles. Her shoes are also borrowed. She wore a different yet also borrowed dress yesterday as well. Kairi catches him staring. "I like to wear the clothes of each world," she says in explanation. "It helps me fit in. Plus it's fun."
"Should I be wearing them?" Roxas has an acute moment of panic where he's sure he's looked ridiculous to everyone they've come across in his otherworldly clothing. A jacket, pants, and a shirt didn't seem too weird to him, and he thought their checkered style was cool, but he's got a biased opinion.
Kairi shakes her head. "Not at all. Your clothes are fine. I'm only doing this for fun."
"Do you need anything else to bring, Roxas?" Belle asks, coming up beside Kairi. "We'll be going into town so anything you truly need will be there to buy, but any personal items you need?"
Roxas does a mental check of how much munny is in his pocket. "I'm good. We can go."
"Good. The carriage is already brought around." Adam offers his arm to Belle who takes it without a second thought.
Roxas's first thought (and second...and third...) are whether or not he should do the same for Kairi. The princess gives him an encouraging look, tilts her head toward the door, and walks away.
Opportunity missed.
The carriage ride over is a lot smoother than horseback riding. Roxas has decided horseback riding is not for him. He'd much rather walk everywhere. Yet a horse-drawn carriage is an alright alternative.
Belle and Adam keep the conversation going yet refrain from talking the entire ride into town. They're more reserved than the other royals Roxas has met on this trip. They don't need to talk the entire time, never feeling the need to fill the silence but rather allow it to work magic in settling everyone down.
When Belle has her nose in a book and Adam is reading through foreign correspondence letters he brought along and Kairi is staring out the window, Roxas finds himself...content. The world's pace is slow and steady, unhurried yet strong. It kind of reminds him of Twilight Town. The laziness of summer days with the odd job to do here and there.
"What are you thinking about?" Belle's words pull Roxas back into the present. Her hazel eyes are on him with a quirked eyebrow and small grin on her face.
"Uh, nothing. Why?"
"You were smiling. I was wondering what was causing the smile."
"That. Right." Roxas sees Kairi's curious expression and figures why not tell? There's no harm. "I was thinking about my old home. It's a place called Twilight Town."
"You don't live there now?" Adam asks.
"No. I'm staying with some friends," King Mickey's to be precise, and Sora's when he's not at the castle.
"You don't have a permanent home?"
"I..." Yep. He shouldn't have told. Roxas has no idea how to proceed from this point. The King's palace is exorbitantly elegant. All the fixings of a modern mansion with the beauty of ancient style. Roxas likes it there, but he doesn't love it there. He loved it in Twilight Town.
(He likes going on missions with Sora and the gang. He loves going on this journey with Kairi.)
"I'm figuring it out," Roxas finishes.
"That's fair. You're—eighteen? Eighteen. You don't need to know exactly what will happen with your life. Nothing is for sure." Belle chuckles. "I was trapped in an enchanted castle when I was eighteen for almost a year before it became my home. You never know what will happen."
"Have I apologized about that lately?" Adam asks humorously.
Belle pats his cheek. "I already told you there's no need. Not with how things turned out."
Roxas's eyes find Kairi on their own accord. Her wide, analytical gaze is emphasized with the tilt of her head. Then she shakes her head as if pulling herself from a thought and takes her hand in his own. She flashes him a smile and goes back to staring out the window.
Their conjoined hands is a sight to behold for Roxas. He didn't know he needed that comfort until she gave it. He pretends it isn't happening, however, in case he breaks whatever it is that made Kairi create the contact in the first place.
He misses the knowing smile that pass between Adam and Belle upon seeing their interlocked hands.
They reach the village a little while later. Kairi is out and stretching before anyone else. She's immediately taken with the world around her. She is by Belle's side in a moment, asking her questions and commenting on the loveliness of the quaint town. Belle answers each question and even throws in her own tidbits of information.
As they walk into town, they pass by the townsfolk who acknowledge the king and queen. There isn't a person there who ignores them or misses their appearance amongst the buildings. When they get into the busier part of town, there is no shortage of people who come by to shake hands with Adam or exchange pleasantries with Belle.
"It's vastly different for Belle now than it was before she met Adam," Kairi utters to Roxas. "They used to ignore her and whisper behind her back. Now she's their queen, and a beloved one at that."
"She forgave them all?"
"Mm-hm. In a heartbeat."
"Why?"
"Because she found the person who accepted her for who she is. She no longer felt like she had to live up to the standards of those around her or even acknowledge them. They had been all she knew. She realized it isn't a matter of standards but of the people you surround yourself with."
Roxas grows quiet after that. With such heavy words to chew on, he can't find it in him to make small talk at the moment.
Kairi doesn't seem to need the small talk, however. She gives Belle a small wave and gestures in a way that tells the queen that she will meander through town and be back at the designated time in a few hours.
Roxas follows her. He really has no need for anything in town. It's nice enough just taking a walk and seeing what there is to see. While Kairi is chatting up a trio of shockingly pretty yet overly done-up blondes, Roxas decides to strike up a conversation with the shoemaker who turns out to be quite the wise-cracker. The jokes he tells are cringe-worthy yet he states them in a way that makes Roxas want to laugh.
When he manages to step away, Kairi is gone. He isn't worried as he strolls through the town in search of her. There are people all around. Surely someone would have screamed if heartless were about.
King Mickey hadn't thought much of their previous heartless encounter in Agrabah. That might be because Roxas toned down the initial attack in his retelling. He chickened out in telling the king the possible seriousness of what the heartless had attempted to do and how the wave of darkness made them feel. Roxas was afraid if he told everything then the King would make them come back to the castle or even send someone else to come with them. Neither option sounded desirable so Roxas padded the truth. And besides, Kairi had said she was glad he came along and didn't seem too keen on having anyone else. Roxas will make this last as long as possible.
There she is. Roxas spies Kairi happily chatting with a woman who is pulling water from a well. The princess notices her temporary bodyguard out of the corner of her eye. She turns to him, eyes bright and eager.
"Roxas!" she exclaims. She grabs his hand when he gets close enough. "Guess what? Their town's anniversary is tomorrow. Can we stay one more day? Please?"
Large pleading eyes, batting eye lashes, and a warm hand clasping his put together in an endearing manner that Roxas obviously is powerless to say no to. Not that he wants to.
His mind automatically fills with Yes, anything you want, but instead he says, "Why are you asking me? You're the one in charge here, your highness."
"Your highness? Are you related to the king and queen?" the lady at the well asks.
Whoops.
Kairi shakes her head. "He's joking. I'm his 'princess'."
"Ah," the woman says with a twinkle in her eye. "How sweet."
Kairi nods and gives her a smile. "Yes, very sweet. Thank you for telling me about the anniversary. Perhaps I'll see you there."
"Of course. I hope you can join us. You're most welcome. We usually have travelers from nearby towns come by. The more the merrier."
With that Kairi and Roxas bid the woman goodbye. Kairi takes her hand back and fiddles with something in her knapsack. "I asked if we could stay because we're in this together," she says when she finally pulls out a loaf of bread, still warm. Must have gotten it from the baker who has been going around with a platter of rolls. She hands half of it to Roxas. Roxas tears off a piece and pops it into his mouth. Delicious. "You have to go where I go, but I don't want to prolong this if you don't want to be in this world."
Roxas tilts his head. He can't help but laugh.
Kairi shoots him a look. "What's funny?" she asks.
"Nothing," Roxas shrugs. "It's just—I thought it was established that I'm having fun on this trip. 'Best time I've had in a long while', remember?"
Kairi raises an eyebrow and gives him a cocky grin. "Are you sure? I'm going to make you dance again. There's dancing tomorrow, you know."
Roxas gives a flourished bow. "It'd be an honor to dance with you, my princess." Hearing the my princess bit out loud makes Roxas's ears feel warm, half-hoping half-dreading that Kairi might have caught the implications of those words besides being a joke. However, Kairi's laughing tells him she took it as a joke. Which is ok...it's not...well...Roxas shouldn't feel disappointed but he does. Should he maybe try a little harder to flirt? He is flirting, isn't he?
Man, he should take lessons or something.
That gives him an idea. It's a seed of an idea that grows when Kairi takes his offered hand with a giggle and he moves it so she is on his arm once again. He's really starting to like the gesture. Not to mention it seems to be the common way for a man and a woman to walk together in most of the worlds they've visited so far. This one being no exception. They look normal to the villagers.
Roxas could use this in part of his plan. Part two comes when they reach Belle and Adam a little while later. While Kairi regales Adam of her time in town, Roxas quickly whispers something to Belle. At first the queen appears surprised, but that mellows into something that makes a sliver of embarrassment crawl up Roxas's spine and warm his cheeks. She agrees to his request without further questioning.
"That's it. You're doing fine!" Lumière says in his uniquely loud and elegant way.
"Are you sure?" Roxas asks. That was the third time he accidently guided Plumette to the left when they should have gone right. "I thought I was supposed to—"
"No, no, no," Lumière scoffs. He takes Plumette's hands from Roxas and begins an effortless dance. Plumette giggles girlishly at his show of sophistication. "Dancing with the one you love is not about getting the steps right—"
"Though that does help during the balls thrown in the castle," Cogsworth says with a sniff. "You, sir, disregard proper dance protocol and flounce about with your partner as if there is no one else on the floor."
"Exactly how it is to be done, my dear friend."
"It is not—"
"Is too. Now, Roxas, as I was saying, dancing with the one you love—"
"Kairi and I aren't—" Roxas tries for the third time to correct Lumière that no, he and Kairi are not romantically involved. He fails when the former candlestick wiggles his eyebrows at him.
"No, but you asked how to woo a woman, did you not?"
"I only wanted to learn to dance properly," Roxas says meekly. He did. The fact that he has seen it as a common factor on this trip may have something to do with it. He doesn't want to embarrass Kairi tomorrow at this celebration.
(And, perhaps, maybe, possibly, hopefully, he might ask her to go dancing after all this is over. She might go if he tells her about how all the dancing on this trip gave him the idea. She might find it funny. He hopes she finds it funny enough to say yes and they can hang out after the inevitable end of the trip that Roxas doesn't want to think about.)
"And how to act during a formal event," Cogsworth reminds him. "They are one in the same."
"And when taking your love out, just the two of you. You should make a woman feel special all the time, not only during a dance." Lumière twirls Plumette into himself. "Right, my love?"
Plumette giggles again. "Oh 'ow right you are, darling." Lumière twirls her out then kisses her hand. He says something in a low voice to her that Roxas can't understand because it's in French. Plumette blushes and pulls Lumière close again.
Cogsworth clears his throat. "Let's go over the basics again." He snaps his fingers at Roxas who turns away from the spectacle of affection that the other two were creating. Cogsworth tallies off each point he makes by darting a finger through the air. "Offer the woman your arm. Make eye contact at appropriate times. Offer to get her a refreshment. Kiss her hand in thanks post dance, and dance correctly." Cogsworth shoots Lumière a nasty look.
"Yes, my kind of correctly!" Lumière exclaims.
Plumette comes over and takes Roxas's hands again. "Once more?"
"I don't want to step on your toes," Roxas admits.
Plumette shakes this comment off in a way that reminds Roxas of a cat shaking its head. Graceful yet forceful. "Nonsense. You 'ave worked 'ard. You are doing excellent, monsieur. Simply move with 'ow you feel. Pull 'er close, move with 'er body, enjoy your time with 'er. The rest will come."
Right. Sure. Roxas has his doubts but he's willing to try. He resumes practicing.
He hadn't expected to get Lumière, Cogsworth, and Plumette's help when he asked Adam for assistance. He had found the King discussing something with Lumière when Roxas approached. Belle had taken Kairi away for the afternoon upon Roxas's request to distract her.
Adam agreed to help Roxas who asked for lessons on how to properly escort someone to a function like tomorrow's anniversary party. However, it was Lumière's enthusiasm that trumped Adam's simple pleased agreement. Because of this, Adam relinquished his part in the lessons to Lumière. The king even admitted to Lumière teaching him much about the proper way to go act at balls. Cogsworth as well, who gladly accepted the King's request of his assistance, eager to pass on his knowledge to the next generation.
Roxas had gotten himself in too deep, but if it helps then he won't complain.
"And smile," Plumette tells him when she sees his hardcore concentration. "You frown much too much. Be 'appy! You should be 'appy with the one you love."
"I don't—" Roxas sighs. There's no winning this battle. "Nevermind."
They practice for at least another hour until Roxas claims he's gotten the hang of it. Truthfully, he feels like he knows little more than what he began with, but it's something.
With that done, Roxas makes his way upstairs to find Kairi and Belle. He wonders how he's going to find them with so many rooms to look into. The sound of a commotion echoing down a hallway gives him a hint, though. He follows it and only just reaches the door where it is residing behind when it opens.
A tall, plump woman with broad shoulders and a gleam in her eye that makes Roxas feel like he's shrunk three inches stands there in the now open doorway. The gleam in her eyes grows bigger.
"Wonderful! Kairi, I have found your gentleman friend. Now we have someone to show your beautiful outfit off to."
Roxas can't see Kairi behind the large woman, but he hears her panicked voice. "No! No, that's not necessary. Roxas doesn't need to—"
"Nonsense. When a young lady looks this good, she must be shown off."
"Madame Bouche," Belle appears beside the woman. Madame de La Grande Bouche. Roxas thinks he remembers her being mentioned. Hadn't she been a wardrobe when the castle was cursed? "Perhaps Kairi would—"
"Here she is!" Madame Bouche yanks Roxas inside by his arm and plants him in front of Kairi.
At least, he thinks it's Kairi. She's hidden under layers upon layers of fabric and satin and makeup. The skirt protruding from her waist has a two foot span at least. Maybe bigger. Her face is white with black, purple, and gold accents. And her hair is hidden beneath a huge white wig balanced precariously on her head.
"The height of fashion in Paris. What do you think?" Madame Bouche asks the stunned boy. "She certainly can pull it off."
Roxas can only stare. Kairi stares back, mortified. Her defiant look and heavy makeup hide her embarrassment well.
"Don't. Laugh," she grits out.
That triggers it.
Roxas laughs. He laughs and laughs and laughs. He laughs until his sides hurt and he can't breathe. He laughs even harder when Kairi exacts revenge on him by hitting him repeatedly with her feathery fan. He falls to the ground, partly from laughing so hard and partly from the petty assault. He would feel bad about laughing at her if she wasn't laughing right along with him. Kairi stops her battery and attempts to sit beside him. However, this plan fails when she flops backwards, causing the metal hoop beneath the skirt to fly upwards, revealing white, ruffle-y pants. Kairi desperately tries to right herself. Belle helps her while Madame Bouche yanks Roxas to his feet and pulls him out of the room by his ear.
He sits beside the doorway, trying to regain his breath and quell his laughter as he waits for Kairi to get out of her clothes. Costume is more like it.
When the princess emerges in one of Belle's more subtle borrowed dresses, she's wiping her face with a wet cloth, trying to get the last of the white paint off. The sight of the rim of white around her face triggers Roxas's funny bone all over again.
Kairi twirls the cloth and whips it once at his leg. "It's not that funny."
"It's hilarious."
Madame Bouche emerges from the room. She barrels down toward Roxas who immediately stops laughing. He shrinks into himself in useless protection against the woman towering over him as he sits on the floor. That strikes Kairi as funny. She doesn't even try hiding her laughter at his predicament.
"Men know nothing of fashion. Pay him no mind, mademoiselle Kairi. You were a vision. Next time you stay here, we shall have the royal portrait artist paint your likeness. It will be stunning!"
"That's entirely too kind, Madame Bouche," Kairi says. She turns to Roxas with a gleam in her eye. "At least, I couldn't even think of doing it without Roxas. I'm sure having you doll him up to stand alongside me would make him appreciate all the hard work that goes into looking good."
Madame Bouche's evil eye disappears. "What a lovely idea! I shall begin drawing ideas immediately. If you care to find me, I shall be with the royal clothing."
It is when she is out of sight that Roxas finds it safe enough to unclench his entire body. Kairi offers him a hand up.
"Do I have to?" Roxas asks. Being forced to dress up is one thing, but proof that he actually did it in a royal portrait? No way. Lea would never let him live it down. Nobody would.
Kairi shrugs. "I haven't decided yet. You laughed at me."
"Because it was funny. You should have seen yourself."
"I did. There's a mirror in there."
"We should have brought a camera."
"Don't even think about it!"
Belle emerges from the room then. "Everything's cleaned up. Thank you for humoring Madame Bouche. I know she wanted a new model for her latest designs. Your presence was a convenience."
"Anytime," Kairi says. "It was actually a lot of fun. May I ask if supper will be ready soon? I'm pretty hungry after all that."
"I believe so. Let's check with Mrs. Potts."
In the walk to the kitchens, Roxas manages to catch Belle's eye. He raises his eyebrows to show his surprise at Belle's choice of distraction. Belle brings her hands up in a shrug. At least it was thorough. Roxas certainly didn't have to worry about Kairi catching him in lessons.
"—he walked into the room, entranced by what he saw yet uncertain of the consequences he might encounter in this particular situation."
Roxas barely hears the words Belle reads. He's sunk too deep into the couch, too far against Kairi. His head rests on her upper arm as the rest of him squishes between the couch and her warm body. The princess lies against the arm of the couch. Roxas wonders if she's about to fall asleep like him. He isn't curious enough to get up from his comfy spot to check.
Adam is seated in a chair nearby. His eyes have not left Belle since she started reading.
Belle and Kairi had finished strengthening their connection here over half an hour ago. The warmth of the fireplace, the welcoming atmosphere of the library, and the large couch demanded they stay a while longer. When Mrs. Potts brought in hot tea the deal was sealed.
Roxas is certain Belle has her own form of magic. As soon as she started reading, he felt himself begin to drift. Kairi had lost the battle before he did by leaning on the couch's arm. Roxas had sunk deeper and deeper until he was half on top of Kairi who turned out to be a nice-smelling pillow. If he was more awake, he'd be thrilled at the excessive amount of contact he has with her, but now the happy thought just makes him sleepier.
"We'd better stop for tonight. These two should get to bed," Adam whispers.
Roxas hears Belle close the book and her soft laugh. "I think you're right, but I hate to wake them."
I'm awake, Roxas thinks. His mind is awake but the rest of him not so much.
"Roxas?" Adam's large hand rests on Roxas's shoulder and shakes him lightly. "Roxas, you fell asleep in the library. You should retire to your room."
Roxas grunts. He blinks. The firelight that seemed dull before now appears blinding. Yeah, he should go to bed. He reluctantly sits up.
"Kairi," Belle sing-songs. She brushes Kairi's hair away from her face. "Kairi, sweetie. Wake up."
Kairi curls into herself before resigning to wakefulness. By the way her face scrunches, Roxas knows she's fighting the brightness of the firelight too. A dark room and a freshly made bed sound heavenly right now.
Getting to his feet is a horrendously difficult task, but Roxas manages. He rubs his eyes several times. Kairi remains on the couch. She's barely made it to a sitting position. Roxas reaches down and helps her up. Once on her feet, the princess latches onto her escort's arm and rests her head on his shoulder. Roxas doesn't mind in the slightest.
"Tired," she mumbles.
Roxas grunts again. He's not much more coherent than her at this moment.
Somehow, with the help of Belle and Adam, they make it to their rooms. Roxas strips down to his boxers, throws on a t-shirt, and falls hard into bed. His face burrows into the pillow. Extreme comfort pulls him into unconsciousness before he knows it.
He sleeps for two seconds—honestly, it feels like only two seconds—before a persistent, repetitive sound wakes him. He blinks against the darkness. He waits.
There it is again.
Roxas is coherent enough this time to realize someone's knocking. He gripes and groans and thinks all kinds of ill things against the person on the other side of the door. Nevertheless, he gets up and stumbles across the room to open the door.
"Kairi?"
There the beautiful princess stands in all her bedtime glory—messy hair, old shirt, pajama pants, and a blanket wrapped around her slender frame.
"Hi." Her meek voice floats through the night air. Roxas barely comprehends it.
His mind works on instinct, and Oblivion appears. "Whassit? Wha's wrong?" He's usually better at being ready at a moment's notice right after waking up, but he felt extremely relaxed and safe tonight. He didn't expect danger. He should have. That's his life now. It comes with the territory.
"Easy, Roxas," Kairi says. She places her hand on his arm. The keyblade disappears. "There's no danger."
"Then what is it?" Roxas yawns.
There are candles lighting the hallways. He can see the shadows cast on Kairi's face. She's conflicted, he can tell, on whether or not to say something.
One side wins and she says, "I'm sorry I woke you. Go back to sleep. It can wait until morning."
"Obviously not." Roxas grabs the blanket wrapped securely around her and pulls her into his room before shutting the door. "You woke me. You need something. I'm here. I'm awake. What can I do for you?"
Kairi bites her lower lip and pulls the blanket tighter. "I had a nightmare."
The words are barely a whisper. Roxas's addled brain processes them. Once it does, he becomes fully awake. "It was only a bad dream."
"Yeah, yeah. I know, I know." Kairi pulls the blanket over her head to make only her face and her legs show. "I guess I just needed to see that it was, and you helped. Yay. I'm going back to bed."
"Kairi."
At Roxas's word, Kairi stops at the door, back to him. It must have been a bad one. He'd never heard of her having nightmares before. The happy, peppy bottle of spunk and sunshine that is the princess of Radiant Garden never showed that petty things like nightmares could get to her.
Roxas pinches the blanket and gives the smallest bit of a pull, letting it be her decision to turn around, to tell him what's on her mind.
Kairi slowly turns. She won't look Roxas in the eye, face angled toward the floor. She clears her throat. "Could I, um, hang out here for a little while?"
"Yeah of course."
"Five minutes, then I'm gone."
Roxas shrugs. "It's no big deal. Come on in." He turns to face the rest of his room. A flash of an intrusive thought enters his mind, and he sees him and Kairi curling up in bed together, tangled in the warm blankets and each other. He beats it back as he ushers Kairi toward the window seat that resides on the other side of his room. He pulls back the curtains to allow the moonlight to brighten the room slightly.
It is then another thought enters his mind.
He's still in his underwear.
With a small cough and a few stumbling steps, Roxas tries to casually play off the fact that he has to put on a pair of sweatpants. Kairi—bless her pure princess heart—stares out the window while he does this and pretends she hasn't noticed. When he rejoins her by the windowsill, she drapes half the blanket over him.
"Five minutes," she says again.
Roxas shrugs again. "Whatever."
"I'm sorry I woke you."
"You already apologized."
"Right." Kairi plays with the edge of her blanket, eyes on the vast scenery offered through the window. "I wasn't sure if this—if it's ok to bug you like this."
This is a surprise. This coming from the girl who always seems to worm her way into anyone's life and makes them grateful for her presence whether they wanted it or not. She's that good with people.
"I honestly don't mind. I'm here to keep you safe. I can keep you safe from nightmares too." Roxas's attempt at humor is met with a nearly nonexistent smile, yet it does get her to look at him.
"I did this with Aqua when she was in the King's Castle."
"You two close?"
"She knows what it's like to have to be the one left behind while her friends go off and do a bunch of crazy stuff." Kairi pauses. "She's like a sister to me. A big sister I never had. Naminé's basically my sister. So's Xion, I think. Although she might be more Sora's sister."
Roxas grins. "That sounds about right. Sora's family got significantly bigger. If you consider Naminé your sister, then I guess I'm Sora's brother. And Xion is his sister."
"How is it sharing a house with him?"
Sora got bunkbeds. The young keyblade master's excitement at getting bunkbeds was through the roof. He was equally excited to have a brother—Roxas—to use it with. Sora had bugged his parents when he was younger to give him a sibling. Riku and Kairi somewhat filled the void, but there is something about blood connections.
So when Roxas came along, Sora made sure his former Nobody always has a place to stay on Destiny Islands (though Sora demanded the top bunk) because his "brother" couldn't possibly stay anywhere else. Roxas tells Kairi this. She in turn regales him with tales of how it was suddenly having three other girls to share a bathroom with.
For the first few weeks after everything passed, it wasn't only Roxas staying on the islands. He had Ventus stay over while on the islands as well. Terra and Lea stayed at Riku's. Xion, Naminé, and Aqua stayed with Kairi in her giant house. Being the adopted daughter of the Mayor had its perks. Roxas pictures the four girls in that large, seaside-view room of Kairi's talking and laughing. Then he remembers the nights in Riku's cramped basement. How they would all watch the tiny TV down there, stuffed on the sofa and floor with blankets and pillows scattered among them.
Just thinking about it creates a swell of warmth in Roxas's chest. It's nights like those that make him grateful he got another chance at life. Nights like those that make him keep going, hoping to experience another.
"I'm planning on having everyone over to my castle next summer," Kairi declares. "If I'm stuck there, then you guys have to come to me. Everyone can have their own room on the same wing. Better than that, we can all share rooms, making up for lost time not having seen each other. What do you think?"
"Sounds fun."
"Then you'll come?"
"Yeah, I'll come. Why—Why do you think I won't come?"
Kairi looks back down at the blanket covering her lap. "Can I tell you something?"
Roxas wonders what it is about nightfall that makes it easier for him and Kairi to confess things. He doesn't question it too thoroughly, though. He'd rather not ruin the magic of it.
"I thought you didn't like me when we first all sort of started hanging out. I guess I'm still trying to convince myself you're not just putting up with me on this trip."
Roxas is floored. He is on the ground because he is totally blown away by this admission. Not literally on the floor—but it feels like he's been knocked over. "What? You thought that—think that?"
"I know better now."
"I never hated you!"
"I didn't say you hated me. I said you didn't like me."
"I liked you! I like you now." Roxas backtracks. "Friends. We're—aren't we friends? I thought we were friends. Didn't we establish this in Agrabah? I never...was it something I said?" He racks his brain for something he might have done or said to make the princess think he didn't like her.
Kairi traces patterns on the window with her fingertip. "It wasn't anything you did. It took me a while to realize that you were shy. Not because you thought I was stuck up or annoying. And that's why you didn't really talk to me. That, and you had other friends already, but we already established that."
"I'm not shy," Roxas says. He rethinks his words thanks to Kairi's oh please expression. "Not a whole lot. Some. It takes me a while to warm up to a new place. New places don't usually have a good track record with me. Something always ends up going wrong. That goes for new people too."
That's another reason this trip is nice. There have been very few attacks, only really that one and it turned out to be nothing. And the people are beyond nice in these worlds. Princesses with pure hearts don't exactly pose a threat socially or physically.
"Then you didn't think less of me."
"Think less of...Kairi, are you serious?"
"Ok, ok! I was being paranoid. We agreed to get to know each other now and I should honor that. Things I now know about you: you're quiet, you're not fond of new people and places, and you never didn't like me. Better?"
"Getting there." Roxas lets out a heavy breath and slumps a little lower in his seat. "I'm coming next summer. And I'm going to have a full conversation with you each day so you know we're friends."
"You better." Kairi giggles. Roxas feels slightly better. Kairi's laughter means they've gotten her mind off her nightmare.
"I will. I promise. I'll even start when we get back. I'll talk to you more."
Kairi fakes a gasp and covers her mouth with her hand. "In front of the others? In public?"
"You'd better believe it."
They're both laughing at this point. The atmosphere relaxes.
Maybe that's why she never really was alone with him for long periods of time, Roxas thinks. She made sure there weren't any situations where they interacted much because she didn't want him feeling awkward or unhappy. That's so incredibly dumb. If anything, he had wanted more alone time with her. Maybe even back then he had a crush on her—a subconscious want to get to know her more, be near her, be one of the people she shines that smile upon directly rather than simply thrown in with the group.
Well, he's certainly got that alone time now.
"Hey, Roxas?"
"Hm?"
"I know you probably won't take me up on this, but I wanted to say...you always have a home at Radiant Garden, if ever you need one." Kairi's gaze flickers to him then out the window then to the blanket then back to him. She's nervous. "You said before that you don't really have a permanent one. I thought you thought Destiny Islands was your home, but I understand that it's not. It would, you know, be really nice if you stayed there, but if the islands aren't for you, that's fine. I just wanted you to know you can have a home in the castle if you want. I know everyone else will offer you a place in a heartbeat, but I honestly, wholeheartedly mean it. Please believe me. It would be wonderful to have you there with me."
Roxas is speechless. Stay at her castle? Her sincerity oozes through every word she speaks. She really is offering him a home. She really does think it would be nice to have him there. With her.
Apparently he's stretched out the silence too long because Kairi backpedals. "You don't have to if you don't want to. It was just a thought. You had said earlier that you didn't really have a permanent place. My place doesn't have to be permanent. It can be a place to crash and that's all. I won't be—"
"Thank you."
More silence.
Then—
"You're welcome."
It's a relief to know he at least has the option. Being at Sora's house is great and all. He really likes having a brother of sorts. A home away from home, but it's not his home.
(Deep down, Roxas still has a sense that tells him it isn't his place, that he doesn't really, truly belong there. That it is Sora's place. Not Roxas's. Roxas has nothing of his own.)
"Hey Kairi?"
"Yes?"
"What was your nightmare about?"
Kairi hums in a wistful way. It shows how far she's come from the fearful girl that stood in his doorway not an hour before. "It's the same nightmare I always have. It varies somewhat depending on where I'm staying, but that's it. I'm on the island—or wherever my mind puts me—waiting. I'm pacing the beach waiting for Sora and Riku to come back." Kairi frowns. "In the back of my mind, though, I know, in my dream, they aren't coming back. I won't see them again. I won't see anybody again. No one's coming for me."
Kairi rubs her forehead. It takes her a minute to continue. "Then...then the darkness starts coming in. It surrounds wherever I am. It keeps getting closer, and I keep waiting for someone to come and help, but there's nobody. No one comes."
That's...awful. Sora and Riku's leaving certainly did a number on her. And they're still leaving her. Those two have taken to their duties as keyblade wielders like ducks to water. They go where King Mickey asks them to go, and they fulfill whatever duty Yen Sid requires of them. Kairi gets no such treatment. She has other responsibilities as a Princess of Heart that the king and Yen Sid demand she address. It usually doesn't have her run in the same circle as Sora and Riku, her two closest friends. Roxas guesses that with their frequent departures, despite always coming back, Kairi gets set aside more and more often.
The princess shivers like she's ridding herself of her bad memories. "That's why I wanted to stop by your room. I wanted to know someone was nearby...that you hadn't left."
"I'm not leaving. I won't leave you." Roxas's voice is resolute. Firm. Absolutely no room for doubt.
And that rewards him with a smile—a large, genuine smile—from Kairi with a hint of adoration in it that has Roxas's insides turning tingly.
"I know that now," she says kindly. "Do you ever have nightmares about what happened?"
"I think everyone does. I'm no exception."
Kairi bites her lower lip. "May I ask what they are?"
Roxas rubs the back of his head, scratches his nails against his scalp. "They're kinda like yours. Only there's no definite place or even people. The only constants are darkness suffocating me and Naminé's words."
"Naminé?"
"Yeah, um...she told me once I was never supposed to exist. Something like that sticks with a person." Roxas spares his friend the details of how the hollow words echo in his mind, repeating until they are all he hears as the darkness smothers him, taking away his breath, forcing him to wake up in a cold sweat and gasp for air. He's woken Sora once or twice because of his panicked stirrings.
Then Kairi's there. She is leaning forward and resting her arms on his bent knees to prop up her head there.
(Roxas is really glad he put on pants because a tiny part of his brain is constantly suggesting things to do when Kairi gets this close.)
"What happened, happened. That's the end of it. What we got out of it was you, and I'm really glad you exist."
(Work, brain. Work. Find something to say. Flirt! Perfect opportunity. Flirt...how do you flirt again?)
"Me too."
(Genius.)
Kairi reaches a hand out and ruffles his hair. "You're cute."
Cute. What kind of cute? Adorable puppy cute? Best friend cute? I-want-him-to-realize-I'm-flirting-with-him cute? If it's the last one, she's infinitely better at flirting than he is. Subtle yet effective.
"Alright, I'm heading back to bed. It's way past five minutes, and I'm feeling a lot better." Kairi gets up from the window seat. She takes the blanket back, and Roxas's legs are exposed to the cool night air once again. He follows her to the door. She turns back and gives him a lingering hug. "Thanks, Roxas."
"You're wel—anytime. Seriously."
Kairi hugs him tighter when he says this then lets go. She's halfway out the door when a thought strikes him.
"Wait." She waits. Roxas steps beside her. He stands there a moment then awkwardly extends his elbow. Kairi blinks once, twice, before understanding his intent. When she does, a broad smile spreads across her face and she wraps her hands around his arm. "What escort would I be if I didn't escort you back to your room? Might help ward off the nightmares too."
"Now I'm really glad I got to know you better. You're incredibly sweet."
If Roxas's stride is longer and if his back is straighter, he chalks it up to Lumière and Cogsworth's training. You're supposed to stand tall with a lady on your arm.
When they reach her door, Roxas makes a big flourish of taking her hand between both of his then removing her arm. She giggles at his antics. (Roxas would never dream of doing things like this in front of the others. Being alone with her is giving him courage.)
Her giggling stops when he kisses her hand. He meant it as a part of the joke. She should have kept giggling. The fact that she stopped giggling is a bad thing. An alarm goes off in his head. But when he raises his eyes to meet hers, her face is full of merriment which tells him even if she isn't laughing on the outside, she finds it amusing nonetheless. The candlelight in the hallway illuminate her face perfectly, softening her features and emphasizing her cheery smile.
(Roxas is quite fond of how she looks in firelight.)
"What a fine escort you are," she says.
"Just want to make sure my princess is well taken care of." Ok yeah. That's flirting. (He's finally flirting. Yes.)
"Oh, I certainly feel well taken care of, thank you kind sir."
"Anytime, your majesty." Roxas leans in a little, and that tiny part of his mind starts suggesting things again. "And I mean it."
Kairi scrunches her nose at him that reminds Roxas of a rabbit because she knows his words, though genuine, are teasing. "I know that now."
"Good." He reluctantly lets go of her hand. "You're good from here?"
"I'm good."
"Good." He should stop saying good. "See you tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow."
"Right. Goodnight, Kairi."
Kairi touches his arm with her fingertips. Suddenly, Roxas's mind pulls out a memory he forgot until this point. He's brought back to Agrabah with Iago squawking at him in the middle of the night. His scratchy voice rings loud and clear in Roxas's mind.
"What, do I gotta spell it out for you? When a girl likes a guy, she touches him. You know, they touch the guy's shoulder. They hold his hand. They give him an extra hug. All that mushy stuff...Geez, kid. I really do gotta spell it out for you. I watched you and yer princess since you got here and thought I'd help you out by telling you she likes you."
Roxas is now painfully aware of Kairi's warm fingers against the skin of his forearm.
"Goodnight, Roxas." Kairi says these words quietly in matching the lax atmosphere around them. Then she opens her door and steps inside. She turns back to him before closing the door. "Oh, and I've decided that next time we're here, I won't make you stand for a portrait painting. Consider it my thanks for tonight." Then the doors are closed and Roxas is alone in the hallway.
Turns out, Roxas sleeps just as well after the unexpected visit as he did before it.
The calm that comes with his magnificent night's sleep doesn't last long after he awakens, however, because Roxas wakes up with nerves. Nerves that makes his insides squirm and cause a slight frown to remain on his face permanently throughout the day.
Nerves—the cause of them being the fact that he would be hanging out with Kairi today. Not a big deal usually. In fact, it wasn't a problem any other part of this trip. Now? Now it's weird. He never wanted that concept to be weird. It's only weird because he's coming to terms with the fact that he's drawn to this incredible person who still gives the impression of being out of reach.
He hides his nerves throughout the day. If his smile is a little smaller or his words fewer, who was to notice? Kairi is bright enough for the both of them so the other occupants of the castle don't notice, but the princess herself does. Roxas thinks he pulls it off for the most part, but at one point Kairi looks at him, her nose scrunched like it usually is when she's displeased at something, or thinking about something. One in the same sometimes. Probably in this case she's displeased with the fact that she can't figure out why Roxas is drifting away from her all the sudden.
He desperately hopes she doesn't think he thinks less of her because of last night. He doesn't! If anything, he's got more respect for her. (More feelings for her is more like it—probably why he woke up with stupid nerves.)
Whenever the thought of the party crosses his mind, he can feel the nerves spring to life, eating at his stomach and twisting his intestines. That's probably because he has decided to treat it as a test-date with Kairi. Treat her like he would if he were seriously taking her out...which increases his unease because he's never been on a date before. None of his friends have seriously dated or swapped stories of dating. There's no real experience to go off of.
He's going on instinct with this one. And Lumière and Cogsworth's teachings.
Afternoon comes and Roxas is near the front entrance with the former Beast. He fiddles with his outfit, borrowed clothes from one of the stable boys. He figured he should go all out and play the part of regular townsman tonight. Besides, Kairi is dressing up. He thinks she might appreciate the gesture. Or laugh. She has every right to laugh after the field day he had cracking up at her complete makeover yesterday.
"Your hat is crooked," Adam points out. He finds the boy's squirming rather entertaining. It reminds him of himself when he was to meet Belle for their first dance together.
Lumière scoffs. "Nonsense! It looks perfect as is."
"Don't be absurd," Cogsworth rebuffs. "He looks sloppy."
"My hair won't let it sit right," Roxas says. He tried for a solid twenty minutes to get his hair to lay right. He failed. There's no fixing his blonde mess.
Adam grins fondly at the two servants. He knows their unique form of teaching well. He pats Roxas on the shoulder. "Take a deep breath. She's not going to run away."
"And if she does, snatch her up!"
"Lumière!"
"I was only joking, Cogsworth." Lumière leans in towards Roxas. "Hold her hand at all times just in case."
It is thankfully at that point that the girls appear at the top of the staircase. Madame Bouche reigned in her eccentric tastes and chose sophisticated yet casual dresses for the two royals. Roxas finds himself smiling, momentarily quelling his nerves, as he watches Kairi descend the staircase in her soft pink dress, hair half pulled back to show more of her face and clear violet eyes. Those eyes catch Roxas's and the nerves make a fierce return.
"Sorry for the wait," Belle apologizes. "We have to look perfect. Madame Bouche's orders."
"Worth the wait," Adam says. "Right Roxas?"
"Huh? Oh, uh, yeah. Totally." Behind Kairi, he sees Cogsworth smack his palm over his eyes. Roxas tries to rectify the situation. "You—You look amazing."
Kairi ducks her head, momentarily hiding her rising blush. "Thank you. Did you dress up?"
Roxas self-consciously tugs at his threads. "I thought it would help me blend in better."
"You look good."
"Thanks."
The conversation falls dead. If this is how Roxas's fake date is going, then he'd hate to subject any girl to the horrors of a real date with him.
Adam clears his throat. "Shall we?" Belle tucks her arm in the crook of her husband's, and the two head for the door.
Roxas offers his arm as well, and Kairi takes it despite the lingering awkwardness. They make their way out the door. Roxas steals a glance back and sees Lumière shaking his hands clasped together over his head in a cheer of good luck. Cogsworth is gesturing for him to stand up straight. Then the door closes and Roxas is truly alone in this. No more guidance.
The hour-and-a-half carriage ride there is pleasant enough. Again, Adam and Belle keep the conversation going but their tendency to allow silences to come naturally also happens. During the quiet moments, Roxas fiddles with his hands. He can't help glancing over at Kairi who usually is looking out the window. The one time he finds her looking back at him, he snaps his head back down and feels heat creep up his face.
(Shy. He's shy. Even with people he knows, he can be shy. Roxas finally admits this to himself.)
After the agonizing trip, the quartet arrive at the village. Already, things are in full swing. The amount of people in the streets has doubled since yesterday. Vendors have set up stands along the cobbled paths and into the center of town. Some people are laughing, others are arguing, and most have big smiles on their faces.
When one person notices the royal carriage, everyone notices. News of the king and queen's arrival spreads like wildfire. The moment Belle and Adam step out they are lost in the mass with two royal guards trailing them just in case. (Roxas and Kairi get no such treatment. They are their own guards.)
The other two are left amongst the swarming people. The scene brings back memories of Agrabah's marketplace. Here there are a variety of vendors from not only this town but several ones in the surrounding area. Salesmen have a nose for knowing where they will be able to make a buck, and right now this is the town to be in.
Roxas once again glances over at Kairi. Her eyes are taking in her surroundings, ignoring him like he's been ignoring her.
He's got to fix this.
Roxas squares his shoulders before clearing his throat. "Kairi?" He ignores the way his voice cracks.
Kairi turns her large, violet eyes to him in question. Roxas clears his throat again. "Are you hungry? We could get something to eat."
"Not right now. I'm not hungry. Are you hungry?"
"No." Yes. "I can wait."
"Oh. Ok."
The conversation comes to a screeching halt once more. He can see Kairi's confliction on her face. She wants to say something, wants to make this right and easy again just like he wants, but she can't find anything to say either.
Roxas has a terrible, bone-chilling thought in that moment. It makes his blood go cold and his face drain of the color it's gained from being so close to Kairi.
The thought: what if he ruins his chance before it even starts?
He doesn't want to admit defeat, doesn't want to let her go (he just came to terms with the fact that he wanted to date her!). What if he...maybe he could...why can't he think of anything to say?
Stupid nerves!
"I'm going to—"
Kairi's voice gets cut off when three shrilled screeches reach their ears. The three blondes Roxas saw her chatting with yesterday jostle through the crowd, making their way to Kairi.
"Kairi!" one of them shrieks.
"Mademoiselle red-head," another says.
"Glad you finally decided to show your face. We had such dull company," the third complains.
"It can't be that bad," Kairi says.
"Oh yes it is!"
"The out-of-town men haven't showed yet. They arrive tonight when there's more beer offered."
"Figures they need that incentive. As if we aren't enough of a reason." The third girl turns and looks to Roxas. "Hello. Do I know you? You seem familiar."
"Oh, I'm sorry." Kairi gestures to Roxas, "Ladies, this is Roxas, a good friend of mine. Roxas, this is Claudette, Laurette, and Paulette."
"Nice to meet you," Roxas says. He bows his head. For some reason, this causes the girls to giggle.
"Is he your escort?" Laurette asks.
"Uh—"
"He's a cutie. Not gorgeous like a certain hunter who is no longer allowed to be named within the borders of this village, but acceptable certainly," Paulette snickers.
"Roxas is—"
"Oh who cares," Claudette says in exasperation. "We have time to spare. Kairi, would you care to join us in Monsieur Absolon's tea shop? We plan on staying there until the other gentlemen arrive for tonight's festivities."
"I—" Kairi turns to Roxas then. She stares at him like she's waiting for him to object or give her an excuse. Much like the rest of the day, Roxas finds himself tongue-tied only this time nerves aren't the cause. A saddened heart is. Kairi sighs when she gets no objection from him. "Girls, I'd love to. Lead the way."
Four steps. Kairi gets four steps away from Roxas before he finds his courage and his voice because no. There is no way he's going to let his chance with this girl go. He refuses to let a little thing like nerves allow her to slip through his fingers. (If there is even a chance with her. Honestly, he's not quite sure there is, but if there is, he's taking that chance. Who cares if he falls on his face? He wasn't meant to exist in the first place. Anything is a bonus when you could have been dead. Risks must be taken.)
"Wait!" The word comes out louder than he intends, but it gets her attention. Kairi looks his way through the people separating them. Roxas makes his way to the trio and his princess. He grabs her wrist without really meaning to. He ignores the wide-eyed stares of the blondes and instead focuses on Kairi. "I'm sorry I've been quite. I'm off today, but it's nothing you did and really not because of last night. Last night was great. I like hanging out with you. I want to keep hanging out with you—right now. Can we hang out? Please? I'd like to." Roxas takes a breath. "If you don't want to...that's fine. Go ahead and have tea. I don't mind."
(He minds.)
The smile that splits Kairi's face is blindingly beautiful. She looks back at the trio. "Sorry girls. My escort would prefer to have me by his side. Next time I'm in town."
Roxas's relief has infinite measure when Kairi takes his hand and guides the two of them away from the girls.
"He ruined the fun!"
"Good riddance. More gentlemen for us tonight."
"What do you think they were up to last night?"
Hearing their exasperated words only makes his own smile grow until it almost matches Kairi's in width.
When they are a safe distance away, Kairi looks back to Roxas, a serious look on her face. Roxas tries mirroring her expression but finds it difficult to bite back his grin.
"Now be honest, are you hungry?" Kairi asks with a note of teasing.
"Extremely." Roxas has barely eaten all day. The nerves refused to have more than two spoonfuls of anything in his stomach at a time.
Kairi's fake-seriousness disappears. "That's what I thought. Come on."
Roxas feels Kairi's hand loosening its grip. He tightens his fingers around hers to secure her hand in his. Kairi looks at him and for a moment Roxas is sure she knows what he's trying to do, she comprehends what he hopes to accomplish tonight. This strikes some fear in him, flaring the nerves in his stomach, but they fade when a small yet solid smile of understanding crosses her face. She tightens her grip on his hand again and says nothing about it as they go to the first stand they see that sells food.
Things go a lot better after that. Kairi ends up eating a third of whatever food Roxas buys, and Roxas starts the majority of their conversation. He's still a little nervous, but it no longer hinders his people skills. It's more of a good nervousness, like an anything-can-happen kind of thing. He can't really define it.
The temporary keyblade guard and the Princess of Heart talk about a lot, anything and everything. A good chunk of their conversation revolves around their past year—the Year of Boredom Roxas calls it. It was the year he was subjected to school again. He hadn't been in school since Twilight Town. It lived up to his extremely low standards of it. The uniforms, the droning lectures, the homework (Roxas hates homework). He isn't bad at school. It simply isn't his favorite thing.
Out of everyone, Kairi is the farthest in school. She is the one who missed the least amount of classes. She still has one more semester to complete (compared to Roxas's two and Riku and Sora's three). She chose to go on this outing to each princess and do whatever else the king required of her this summer before finishing her final semester, staying on the islands with Sora and Riku for their second semester then devoting her summer to being in Radiant Garden. She claims this won't be too big of a separation issue when Roxas asks about being away from her two best friends. She says King Mickey will no doubt have them running around doing something.
She in turn asks about Roxas's missions. Truth be told, the king has not given him much. He's more a tag-along to any mission Sora and Riku are given. He doesn't mind (much). But it would be nice to be treated on the same skill level as them. He can hold his own in a fight against Sora, even Terra, and that's saying something. Instead he's treated like Lea and Xion and even Kairi—someone to be backup who still needs to learn from the best.
It's frustrating, a kind of frustrating Kairi understands. Roxas holds on a little tighter to her hand when she says as much. It feels good, like having an ally. He's never voiced those aggravations before. He feels better for finally doing so.
The two friends stop by nearly every stand. Kairi looks at the merchandise, and Roxas looks at Kairi. It's a win-win situation all around. Kairi buys a few trinkets here and there. At one point, Roxas gives her munny to buy them both drinks while he hangs back saying he needs to retie his slightly-too-big shoe. When she's gone, he quickly purchases a tiny doll made out of hay with a pink dress on, much like Kairi's now. He slips the doll into his jacket pocket in time for Kairi's return. She offers him water flavored with fruit. Roxas is glad. He'd rather not yet experience the drunkenness he sees some of the crowd experiencing.
The sky is getting dark which means beer is starting to be passed around which also means people are getting rowdier. The rowdy people are disturbing the vendors who begin packing up. They know the time for the celebration part has arrived.
The center of the village has been cleared of booths and any other obstructions. People gather around the fountain where Belle and Adam have stationed themselves. The king gives a small speech, praising the village for its endurance and the people for their steadfastness. Belle says a few words in thanks for their hospitality and good will.
Then the real fun begins.
A band strikes up from their place alongside the buildings. Their fast-paced rhythm are nothing like what Roxas was taught to dance to with Cogsworth and Lumière. That doesn't stop him. Not this time. Roxas is riding too much of a high from the success of the afternoon to let something like that stop him. He pulls Kairi to the dance floor, and together they fumble through the steps of the first dance. They get the hang of the style soon enough and end up dancing five straight songs together before their feet demand a break.
Roxas goes to grab them a couple of drinks. Turns out there's no more water—or at least that's what the last remaining vendor says who only offers Roxas beer in a large glass mug. The keyblade wielder decides to only take one. There's plenty for him and Kairi, and he's pretty sure one for each of them would get them both drunk. Kairi may have more experience drinking thanks to all those glasses of wine when dining with the princesses, but she's a lightweight thanks to her slim frame.
Turning back to where he left Kairi, Roxas doesn't see her right away because a swarm of young men have descended upon her. Roxas's hand unconsciously grips the mug handle tighter. He marches over to them.
"—with someone," he hears Kairi say when he gets within earshot.
"Hear that, men? She's with someone, but I don't see him," the scrawny one says. (He looks scrawny to Roxas. Someone the keyblade wielder could push over with one decisive shove which he thinks he just might do.)
"Shame he couldn' keep a girl like ya," the ugly one says. (Not someone Kairi could possibly be proud to stand next to in pictures. Nope. Roxas can't see it.)
"We're more than happy to keep you company," the stupid one says. (Roxas knows he's stupid. He can't explain it, but he knows. That idiot couldn't possibly keep Kairi's attention.)
Finally, Roxas retakes his place beside the princess. He puts his arm around her waist and takes a sip of his drink. He doesn't look at Kairi to see her reaction. His focus is on the trio of dunderheads. "I'm back. Who are you three?"
"The fated man returns," Ugly says. "Isn't that somethin'."
"We were just keeping this young lady company. Can't leave someone as beautiful as her alone. Unsavory characters are about," Scrawny says.
"I'll keep a lookout. Thanks for the warning," Roxas says sourly.
"Care to dance, pretty one?" Idiot asks.
Roxas pulls Kairi closer until she is practically flush against him. He looks down at her, sure his slightly crazed and bitter smile is enough to relay his thoughts to Kairi. Kairi stares at him with wide eyes a moment then grins in a better-than-you manner that makes Roxas proud. She nestles against him. Her forehead presses against his jawline.
"I'm spoken for tonight, gentlemen."
Roxas's heart flutters.
"Ditch him. Be with a real man." Scrawny winks at her.
Roxas's heart turns to stone. Yep. He's going to push Scrawny. It's official. He just needs to set down his beer...
"How about someone else instead—someone better?" Kairi says. Roxas has a moment of panic when Kairi steps away from him. He keeps his hand on her waist and leans with her when she points to the other end of the crowd. It takes Roxas only a second to see who she's pointing out. The trio of blonde locks are impossible to miss. "I have it on good conscious that those three have been waiting for gentlemen such as yourselves to sweep them off their feet. I think the three of you just might be those gentlemen."
Scrawny, Ugly, and Idiot exchange looks amongst themselves until equally dumb smiles are plastered on their faces. They head that way without even a backwards wave to the two they are leaving. Roxas hears Idiot say something about preferring blondes before they get lost amongst the group. If they weren't such boneheads, Roxas might almost feel sorry for them. Those girls are going to chew them up and spit them out with no mercy.
Kairi laughs as she shakes her head. She turns back to Roxas whose hand is still on her waist now shifting to the small of her back with her movements. "My hero. You came back just in time. I swear I thought I was going to have to summon my keyblade to get rid of them." Kairi grabs onto the collar of his jacket (and grabs onto his heart too, but he doesn't tell her that) and pouts. "Please don't leave me again."
Roxas swallows. His throat has become very dry. "You—ahem...you got it."
Kairi smiles. "Thank you. Did you get our drinks? Why do I only see one?"
Roxas takes a sip of the beer in order to quench his dry throat. "They only had beer in these huge glasses. I figured—I figured neither of us needed one all to ourselves. Are you ok with sharing?"
Kairi takes the mug from him. "Definitely." She takes a sip and makes a face. (Yeah, beer isn't his favorite either.) She's facing him now, and Roxas's hand is back on her waist. She doesn't seem to notice or mind which gives Roxas courage to keep it there.
"You know," Kairi says, "I was wondering if it was going to be you that would be jumped instead of me."
"What do you mean?" Roxas asks. His hand is getting warm. She's warm. His forefinger traces the seam of her skirt.
"Those two girls over there have been ogling you."
"What?" Roxas's head swivels in the direction Kairi indicates. Sure enough, two pairs of eyes on two rather pretty girls turn away at their sudden discovery. The shorter of the two boldly looks back at him. Huh. He's never seen girls check him out before. It feels good knowing the opposite sex finds him attractive. An ego boost.
"You can go over there if you want," Kairi says. Her voice brings Roxas's attention back to her. She's staring into the mug instead of looking at him. "The other guys are gone, and I honestly can take care of myself. You know that. If you want to go talk to them—"
"No."
Kairi bites her bottom lip. "Are you sure? They're pretty. You could—"
"I'd rather be here," Roxas says honestly. The with you part he leaves out. Maybe he will add it later. He shuffles forward until he can smell the girl before him. She's sweaty from their long day in the sun and the beer is rather strong-smelling as well, but Roxas can detect a hint of the scent that always originates from Kairi's hair. That naturally flowery smell that he's sure she's born with rather than given from a perfume or shampoo's synthetic smell.
Kairi raises her gaze until it meets his. "You do?"
Roxas nods. His voice has petered out into nothing again. That small part of his brain grows louder and suggests he do other things with his mouth than make words.
Kairi blushes. It's a full-fledged blush that makes her face nearly match her hair. Roxas feels those nerves turn into butterflies. He can't help it when he knows that he's the cause of that blush.
(Maybe he has a chance after all.)
The other dancers must be getting tired too because half the couples have left the dance floor. The band slows, creating a melody that those who are not off the dance floor can instead move to in a more relaxed way. In other words, they play a slow song.
Roxas takes the mug from Kairi and hands it to a male passerby who takes it without question. (Free beer. Why not?)
"Care to dance?" Roxas asks. He takes his hand off Kairi's waist and holds it out to her. Kairi nods and takes his hand.
"I'd love to."
Roxas leads them to the floor amongst the couples stepping leisurely to the beat. With confidence, Roxas takes Kairi's hand with his left and puts his right one back on her waist. He pulls her closer than necessary and takes the first steps in the dance taught to him yesterday. He didn't think he picked up this much from the few hours of fumbling, but apparently some part of his mind stored it away.
Kairi notices the change. "Have you been practicing?"
Roxas shrugs and avoids the embarrassing truth. "Maybe I've picked up on a few things. You princesses sure like your dancing. You've danced in every world we've gone to."
"Have I?" Kairi pauses, sifting through this playful accusation. "I guess I have." She looks up at Roxas. "It helps that I have a partner who's willing to try."
"And succeed, I hope."
Kairi smiles a smaller version of her princess smile. This one's more intimate, like she's giving it to him and only him. "And succeed," she says quietly.
Roxas's heart cannot beat any faster, he's sure of it. If it does, it's going to leap out of his chest and he's going to end up being a Nobody again all because this stunning, doe-eyed, pure-hearted girl is looking at him like that. He wants her to look at him like that forever. It makes him feel special, makes him not only think but believe he means something to her.
Roxas is only half aware that he and Kairi are drifting closer. He is fully aware of it when Kairi's temple rests against his jawline and both his hands come to rest on her waist as her arms encircle his neck. Now he can smell her flowery scent. He forces himself to takes steady breaths. Kairi has a stronger effect on him than any form of alcohol ever could. And he loves it.
No wonder Xemnas pushed for them to create Kingdom Hearts and get one of his own. Hearts are wonderful things that make you feel words like beautiful and indescribable.
This moment is one of those moments that Roxas wants to take a real-life snapshot of and relive it again later whenever he wants to. It is a moment to bottle up and treasure, never to lose. He doesn't even want to lose it now. He wants time to stop so his heart can feel this light forever. Such thoughts give him the urge to hold onto Kairi tight until there is no space between them and never let her go. He resists the urge and instead tilts his head enough so the corner of his mouth presses against her hair.
...
Then it's over. It's over and Roxas already misses the moment. Kairi pulls back enough to look at him. That small smile is still on her face. Roxas's emotions are too haywire to even consider the possibility of returning that smile. He can only stare at her in awe.
The two are vaguely aware of the other couples breaking apart. The band has taken a break. Someone bumps into Roxas which is the finally piece in breaking the moment.
Roxas brings down his hands. Kairi follows his lead. (He already misses her touch.) He creates a small consolation by taking her hand instead. He leads her off the dance floor.
"I took lessons," Roxas says when they're amongst the crowd once more.
"You took lessons?" Kairi repeats, confused.
Roxas nods. "From Lumière and Cogsworth. I asked Belle to keep you busy that afternoon, and then I asked Adam to teach me. Lumière overheard and offered to teach me instead. When Then Adam got Cogsworth in on it too. I now know the basics of dancing and also how to escort a lady the proper way. Cogsworth's way, that is. Lumière was a little more out there, but he had some good points. I thought maybe it would be a good idea since..."
Roxas stops rambling. He waits to say anything more before knowing Kairi's reaction.
Kairi's head tilts slightly to the left. Her face scrunches in confusion. "You took lessons?"
He thought they covered that part. "Yes I did."
"For me?"
Roxas shrugs one shoulder in an attempt to be nonchalant. "I didn't want to embarrass you."
Kairi's face smooths out. Roxas isn't sure if it's the good kind of blank expression or the bad kind. "Roxas," she begins to say, "you—"
"There you two are."
Roxas likes Belle. She's incredibly sweet, enthusiastic, and has a calm, motherly-type vibe, but in this moment he really, really doesn't like her. She couldn't have waited thirty seconds before approaching them?
"Are you ready to go?" she asks. She looks tired. Adam doesn't look too awake either. They've had to interact with people more than Roxas and Kairi have. Of course they're tired.
"Yes, we're ready." Kairi's words come out sounding worn-out, like she's had as long a day as the two royals before her. She tugs on Roxas's hand. "You ready?"
No! "I'm ready." He is tired. He should go to bed, but that's the last thing he wants to do.
The four of them make their way to the awaiting carriage. They hear the music start up again when they've made it a few houses down from the center of the village. A sense of longing tugs at Roxas's heart.
Goodbye old moment.
Kairi bumps her shoulder against his. He looks at her but she isn't looking at him. She's walking close enough to him that she could have done it on accident. Meaning she wants to be close to him. Eventually she looks at him and finds him staring at her. The corners of her mouth turn up slightly and she looks away sheepishly.
Hello new moment.
The ride back is quiet. Everyone is tired. Adam falls asleep, head back against the cushion lining the seat with his mouth open to allow soft snoring. Belle stays awake, but her eyes droop and her head bobs several times.
Roxas is tired, sure, yet his mind is a flurry of thoughts, keeping him from actually finding peace enough to sleep. And he's sure he's not going to get a wink later tonight when Kairi decides to lay her head on his shoulder and dozes. It's a good thing he slept well last night. Roxas waits a little while then rests his cheek against the top of her head and allows himself to drift off.
The next thing he is aware of is the driver rousing them. Roxas helps Kairi out, and then, as he had hoped, he escorts her back to her room with her holding onto his arm like he's come to expect of her. Neither says anything. Nothing needs to be said in the sleepy atmosphere.
At Kairi's door, Roxas opens it then reluctantly guides her inside. Kairi becomes more awake when he pulls away.
"M'wait," Kairi mumbles sleepily. He's two steps out the door when she stumbles back to him. Roxas catches her. She leans heavily against him. He barely has time to process her movements as the princess leans up and presses her lips to his cheek. It's only for a second, but it is enough to throw Roxas back into the world of full consciousness. Kairi leans away again, unaware of her effect on him. "Thank you for tonight," she says before fully entering her room and shutting the door.
Roxas stands there a while staring at that door. He can't really hear anything that's going on beyond it. Not much is happening probably. She's going to bed like Roxas should be doing, but his bloodshot eyes are drooping no longer thanks to the shot of adrenaline given to him by that kiss.
A kiss. She kissed him. On the cheek but it's something.
It's a slow process yet Roxas makes his way back to his room. He falls onto his bed without changing or doing any other part of his bedroom routine. Instead he stares at the ceiling and revels in all that has happened tonight. After he wakes up tomorrow morning (if he falls asleep) he will be sure to thank Cogsworth and Lumière for their help.
Naminé is a patient person. She patiently endured the torture of Castle Oblivian. She patiently patched Sora's memories back together. She patiently waited in Kairi's heart until she got a heart of her own. She calls upon her patience now as she stares at the blank screen before her.
It's not a pressing matter, what she needs to discuss, but it is a disconcerting one. Not too long ago she awoke with a feeling. A flash, more specifically. It was reminiscent of those days she controlled Sora's memories. She had a sense for them, could see them, could manipulate them at will. They were images playing behind her eyes she picked and placed carefully.
Now...now things are different. She's used to having that bit of control. It's gone now. She can't control Sora, his memories, or anything else magically for that matter. She's no longer a witch. (She mentally cringes at the word. Riku would disapprove of her even thinking it.)
She's not supposed to have power anymore. So why did she have this flash? Was it only a dream? She's not sure how to handle what presented itself.
Asking a friend is one of her only options.
Finally, the screen flickers and the person she called appears. Ventus's bedhead shows where he was before Naminé called. His mouth stretches into a yawn before greeting his friend. "Naminé. Hey, what's up? Long time, no see."
"Hi. Sorry for waking you," Naminé says.
Ven grunts noncommittedly. "S'ok. I get up in the middle of the night sometimes for different reasons. This happens to be tonight's reason. What can I do for you?"
Naminé looks down at her sketchbook resting on her lap. The moment she awoke, she had sketched what the flash had shown. A face. "I...have a question."
"Shoot. I'm all ears."
"You were inside Sora's heart." Naminé pauses. Ventus nods but says nothing, waiting for her to continue. "Because of that, you and Sora formed a connection of sorts. I'm wondering if you've ever experienced side effects from that."
"Side effects?" Ventus says.
"Like...Like feeling what he's feeling. If he's happy, you're happy. When he's angry, you might be angry too. Or—Or you see a flash of something he sees even though you aren't there yourself."
"Mm..." Ventus hums. He takes a long moment to think about this. Naminé may have feared this to be a silly question, but if it is important enough to her to call him up in the middle of the night, there must be more than what appears on the surface. When he comes to his conclusion, he hopes it's what she wants to hear. "No. I'm sorry, but I can't say that I have. We're pretty alike, his heart and mine, but we were never connected like that."
"Are you sure?" Naminé presses.
Ventius nods. "I'm sure. Sorry, Naminé. Do you experience it with Kairi?"
Naminé fiddles with the frayed edge of the paper. "I...I think I might have just experienced it, yes. Kairi and I have separate hearts now, I know that, but..." Naminé tries putting into words what she experienced. "I think I got a flash of something Kairi experienced."
"Really? Cool. Or not cool. Is this a bad thing?"
"I don't think so," Naminé says slowly. "It just happened. A strong emotion and an image overwhelmed me for barely a second, but it was enough to wake me up. I was wondering if it was something that happens to everyone that has been connected to another heart."
Ventus pinches his chin between his fingers in thought. "That's a good theory, but I think it's a little more than that."
"More?"
"Sora and I are not one in the same. Our hearts originated separately, but your heart came from Kairi's heart. You were more connected to her than I ever was with Sora. Maybe you still have a connection of sorts. When something makes Kairi feel that strongly it might overflow into you. Does that make any sense?"
"Yes, actually. That could be it."
Ventus yawns again. "You should ask Kairi what she experienced. Or better yet, ask Roxas if he experiences what you do when it comes to Sora. He was Sora's nobody like you were Kairi's. He might know more about it than I do."
Naminé smiles. "Right. I'll do that. Thank you, Ven. Sorry for waking you."
"No big deal. Hope you figure out what's going on."
"Goodnight."
"G'night."
The screen goes blank, and Naminé is alone once more. Talking this through with Ventus helped, but his suggestion to ask Roxas probably isn't the best idea considering the flash was about him.
Naminé's eyes once again trail down to the paper in her lap. Roxas. The picture is of Roxas. Roxas's soft smile aimed at the viewer with enchanting eyes filled with admiration. That was the image. If it was only that, Naminé would ask both Kairi and Roxas about her theory, but the accompanying emotion that came with the image deters her.
Affection. A massive wave of affection for the former nobody. That feeling of adoration certainly didn't come from Naminé. No, that was all Kairi. That would certainly be an awkward thing to ask about with the subject of the flash being right there listening in. No, Naminé can wait. She's patient.
Not to mention those two have been hard to get a hold of. They are scarcely in the Gummi ship. When they are, they only give a quick report to King Mickey before continuing onto the next world.
Naminé isn't sure what, but something is going on between her and Kairi—with their connection—and she suspects Roxas might have something to do with it as well. She wants to investigate this further by asking King Mickey if he's heard of any such thing, but he's busy enough as it is. The poor king has been extra stressed lately. He seems preoccupied with Sora's mission. He won't tell anyone what it is Sora's looking for unless they are in on the mission as well. Besides Sora, Donald, and Goofy, King Mickey has asked Lea, Xion, and Riku to be a part of the search party. None of them have leaked to her what they are looking for. It can't be anything good, though, if it takes this much manpower. Naminé's sure if Ven, Terra, and Aqua weren't otherwise occupied, they would be recruited too. The only reason Naminé hasn't been summoned is because she can't wield a keyblade.
Naminé closes her sketchbook and heads back to her bedroom—a guest room in the King's castle. He claimed to want her within safe walls while they search for the threat. It must be quite the threat. He even made Roxas accompany Kairi on her peaceful trip.
The Princess of Heart had told Naminé she was intent on going solo for her mission for convenience's sake. That was her claim though Naminé suspected Kairi needed a break. A break from Sora and Riku, from being treated like a princess, from being watched by eyes that have known her since childhood and see her as a girl who could break any moment, from the talk of her having to stay in Radiant Garden in the near future. Maybe it's a good thing it was Roxas who accompanied her. He hasn't known her since childhood and holds no preconceived notions of what she should do in the future.
Well, maybe it's more of a good thing than originally thought considering the flash Naminé received. She takes a small comfort in the knowledge that despite whatever is happening to cause the flash, that it was a good one with positive emotions.
But she is going to corner Kairi after her mission and demand to know what happened—every detail. Naminé had no idea Kairi's heart contained that level of affection for anyone but Sora...
A/N: 14,607 words. I think I'm addicted to this story. (Plus, Belle is my favorite Disney Princess which might have something to do with the mega-long chapter.)
Have another chapter. Enjoy. It's quite fluffy, and I'm proud of it. The fluff always comes before the angst. (Don't worry, the fluff goes hand-in-hand with the angst when it comes to my writing). And actually, I'm really quite pleased with the storyline I'm developing. It's fun putting in foreshadowing knowing what it leads to but leaving you all in suspense.
By the way, this story doesn't end when they run out of princesses to visit. There's plenty more story after that.
As always, let me know if I missed a detail or ruined grammar or switched tenses somewhere, not to mention—please review! I thrive off of your feedback.
Oh...and have I not mentioned this? DISCLAIMER: I (sadly) DO NOT OWN KINGDOM HEARTS.
