CHAPTER 11 – Roxas – Twilight Town Part II


"Roxas! Hey!"

Neither Sora waving at Roxas as he runs down the alleyway nor Sora hugging Roxas has Roxas fully believing Sora is actually here. Now. Of all places and all times.

Sora pulls back but keeps one hand on Roxas's shoulder. He gives it a shake when he asks, "How are you doing? It's been too long!"

"Yeah." Not long enough, Roxas's surprised brain gripes, but Roxas stamps down the thought. He and Kairi were going to have to face this eventually. It just happens to be now.

"Did the mission go well?"

"Yeah."

"Where's Kairi?"

A shot of possessiveness hits Roxas hard. He shakes off Sora's hand from his shoulder and points a thumb back at Kairi's door. "Sleeping. She's asleep. Don't get too loud."

Sora ducks his head and drops his voice to a whisper. "Oh yeah? You sure we can't just…wake her so I can say hi and she knows I'm here?"

Roxas is shaking his head before Sora even finishes his question. "Nope. She's exhausted. We should really wait until she gets some sleep." (The last thing Roxas wants after such a significant night with Kairi is for her to go to sleep with thoughts of Sora. Not that he thinks she would leave him…but…still…you know. It wouldn't be cool.)

Sora nods solemnly. "You're right. Everyone needs to be well rested. Hey! Mind if I sleep in your apartment tonight? Do you have a couch? I'm beat and the gummi ship isn't sounding too great."

"Yeah sure. Of course. C'mon." Roxas leads Sora to his door. When they enter, Roxas locks the door behind him and gestures to the couch. "All yours."

"Thanks!" Sora flops down on the couch and heaves a big sigh. He catches the extra blanket Roxas tosses his way. "Man, you wouldn't think I would be tired. The King made me rest before coming here. But then I kind of took a few shortcuts on the trip over, had to make my way through a few heartless. Don't tell the King. I was just psyched to get here. You tired at all?"

"Yeah, a bit." The question suddenly makes Roxas feel exhausted because looking at Sora he knows what tomorrow will bring. He sits down on the bed opposite the couch. "What are you doing here anyway?" (That sounds a little harsh. Ease up. Sora hasn't done anything wrong. There's no reason to believe he will take the news poorly.) "Is something wrong? Did you just want to stop in?"

"The King wants you and Kairi to join the mission now that you two are done with the princess visits."

"Oh yeah? How are things going with that?"

Sora shrugs. "It's…going. The King wants to be the one to give you a full briefing. It's fine. We just need more people. Fresh eyes for the search." Sora pauses and takes a good look at Roxas and tilts his head. "You look fancy. Why the nice clothes?"

"Uh…went to the Bistro tonight. Thought dressing up at a fancy place was appropriate."

"Right! That place is great. Maybe I can stop and see Little Chef before we leave tomorrow."

"Sure." Roxas rubs his eyes then presses his fingers to his temple. "Hey, I'm gonna head to bed. I'm kinda tired."

"Oh, yeah yeah! Let's get some sleep. We've got a big day ahead of us tomorrow."

"No kidding," Roxas mumbles under his breath.

The boys change into their sleepwear, turn off the lights, and get comfortable in their beds. Roxas finds himself staring at the ceiling. A pit of anxiety stirs in his gut, but this time for a different reason.

He lets out a small chuckle.

"What's so funny?" Sora asks through the dark.

"Just…feels like back on Destiny Islands when we would share a room."

"Heh. Yeah. Good times. Thanks again for letting me have the top bunk."

"No problem." Roxas pauses. "Hey Sora?"

"Yeah?"

"We're brothers, right?"

Roxas can hear Sora shift on the couch. He looks his way though he can barely see the young man's outline.

"I know so. Don't you?"

Roxas's heart seizes a little upon hearing such certainty. "I do too…and thanks—for everything." (For always claiming I'm my own person, for giving me a bed in your own home, for having your friends be my friends, for all the support, for everything.)

"Hey, I'll always be there for you—bro." Sora can't help laughing at his own joke, and Roxas joins him.

"Goodnight, Sora."

"Goodnight, Roxas."

Roxas takes a deep breath. As he lets it out, he tries to release the anxiety in his stomach—at least enough to sleep tonight. Tomorrow will happen no matter what, but it doesn't have to go badly. Sora is a good guy. He won't be angry two of his best friends found happiness in each other. It will be fine. Just fine.


A knock at the door leaves Kairi's heart pounding in anticipation. She smooths down all nonexistent wrinkles in her skirt, fixes a stray hair, touches the necklace (her new favorite piece of jewelry of all time) and she opens the door. There Roxas stands in all his handsome glory with an extra glow about him Kairi's deeply-in-love heart creates.

"Good morning," she says, biting her lip, sounding shy.

"Morning."

Roxas does not look or sound as happy as she expected him to be. She was floating in the clouds all night with thoughts of him tumbling around in her mind. She makes a move to reach out to him, wondering what could be wrong, but then—

"Good morning, Kairi!"

Sora comes bursting forth from beside the door. He stands there a moment, arms spread wide, grin plastered on his face.

"Sora!" Kairi says out of sheer surprise. Sora immediately envelopes her in a big hug.

It takes Kairi a moment to recognize the situation she is in, but when she does she wraps her arms around Sora because, all things considered, she is happy to see him. But as she does, she looks at Roxas. She understands his rather grim expression now. Instead of greeting one another with an embrace, she is being embraced by another. (No hugs, no kisses, no I love you's with the one her heart yearns for.)

Kairi raises and eyebrow at him.

Does he—? she mouths to him.

Roxas shakes his head. No, Sora does not know yet.

Oh. Ok. Well…

"What are you doing here?" Kairi asks, still feeling the surprise.

Sora pulls back but slings an arm around her shoulders. "I'm here to recruit you and Roxas for the mission. The King sent me to get you."

"Oh?" Kairi feels a strike of bitterness. "He's finally decided to include me?"

"Aw c'mon Kairi," Sora almost whines. "There's a good reason for it, I swear. We would have included you. We are right now! We leave today."

"We aren't going just yet," Roxas chimes in. "We have to go get the developed pictures and see Hayner, Pence, and Olette before we leave."

"After that then," Sora says, undeterred.

"The pictures are being developed?" Kairi asks.

"Sora and I went early this morning and dropped off the camera. It should be ready in a few hours."

"Until then," Sora grabs Kairi's hand and pulls her out of her apartment. She pulls the door closed behind her. "We are going to take a look around for any heartless."

"Is that part of the mission?" Kairi asks.

"You bet," Sora says. "Just a general check. Make sure nothing feels out of the ordinary. No dark feelings. Yada yada."

"We can do that, I guess," Kairi says. She looks to Roxas who is looking at Sora and Kairi's joined hands. Kairi quickly lets go and moves to link her arm with Roxas's. "Hey Sora, did I tell you what an amazing escort Roxas was through the worlds? He did amazing."

"He said everything went smoothly. I'm glad he was there with you," Sora says. The sincerity in his voice, Kairi suspects, wouldn't be there if Sora knew the full story, but when Kairi looks up at Roxas, whose small smile of gratitude warms her heart, she knows this needs to happen. She is ready.

"Let me give you details while we go patrolling."

"Awesome! Tell me, Roxas, did the Dwarfs keep you on your toes?"


"That's hilarious!" Sora laughs. "I can't wait to see that picture!"

"Everybody wants to see the comparison," Roxas mutters. "I swear I'm better looking than the scarecrow."

"The proof will be in the pictures," Kairi says.

It's disarmingly nice. Roxas, Kairi, and Sora have been chatting as they strolled, getting into easy conversation. The feeling of impending missions and impending conversations are both shoved aside. All want to have this moment last.

One thing could be better, according to Roxas. Sora could stop touching Kairi so much. His arm around her shoulder, grabbing her hand when he emphasizes a point, even once touching her cheek in a sweet gesture of close friendship. (Better be friendship.)

(Easy, easy, Roxas has to tell himself over and over. He doesn't know. And Kairi isn't encouraging it. In fact, she has been finding ways to end the contact early. He loves her for that. Heck, he just plain loves her.)

"It sounds like an amazing trip," Sora comments. "I'm just bummed I couldn't go."

Kairi, who has long let go of Roxas's arm but hasn't strayed from his side, looks up at him. He glances down at her. The look they share says quite a lot.

"The pictures should be ready by now. Let's head that way," Roxas says.

"Yes! Scarecrow, here we come!" Sora jogs a few steps ahead. "Race you!"

The couple does not race their friend. Instead they take advantage of their sudden alone time.

"We need to tell him," Roxas says immediately.

"We will. I will," Kairi insists.

"Ok—Ok." Roxas leans forward and kisses her once. Quick. Sora is around the corner, but he could be back any second. "I love you."

"I love you too." Kairi grabs his sleeve. "I do. I love you, Roxas."

Roxas has to kiss her just once more for that. "I know."

Once they catch up to Sora, he already has the pictures in hand. "There you two are! I was wondering what happened to you. Let's take a look!"

"There aren't as many as I thought," Roxas comments when he is handed the packet. "Then again, we didn't take the camera out a lot. We were having too much fun to even remember to record it."

Kairi giggles. "That's a good way to put it."

"Let's see them!" Sora moves to a bench and sits on one end and waits for the other two to come by. Instead of joining him, Sora sees the two exchange a look. (Funny, they've been doing that a lot.) He tilts his head. "What are you waiting for? I wanna see that scarecrow."

"Sora," Kairi says. (Uh oh. Sora recognizes that voice. It's the voice she often uses when she's unhappy about something. The last time he heard it, she tried to convince them to take her on the mission Sora is still working on.) She and Roxas stand before him.

"Yessss? Am I in trouble?" Sora teases. He hopes his teasing will lighten them up…though, Kairi doesn't seem sad—or mad. Just…is he in actual trouble or something? He can't read the mood right now.

"Roxas and I have some big news to share," she says.

"You do? What's up?"

Kairi looks to Roxas who takes her hand in his. Then she looks at Sora with a confident smile. "Roxas and I are together."

A heartbeat of silence.

"Yeah? What about it?" Sora asks.

"What do you mean?" Roxas asks back.

"You've been together for—what—two months now? What about it? Did you want to do the King's mission together? Is that what you're trying to tell me? Makes sense if the princess mission went as well as it did."

Kairi blinks. "Oh—ah, no. I mean, yes, we would like to. We do make a good team. But what I mean, Sora, is that Roxas and I are together in a relationship."

Sora sits up straighter. He tilts his head to the other side. "A relationship?"

"A romantic relationship," Roxas says, but he winces when he says it because it just sounds so dumb, and the situation is already turning into an awkward one.

Sora's brow wrinkles. "I don't understand," he says after another pause.

"Wait—just—Roxas?"

Roxas turns to Kairi in time to catch her kiss. It's not a long one, but it lasts long enough to get the point across. (He wishes he could kiss her normally at least once today—not rushed or worried. Maybe by the end of the day…)

Kairi turns back to Sora, gestures a little towards Roxas, and smiles.

Sora appears…his face is…um…Roxas has never seen that look on his face before. A mixture consisting of confusion, surprise, distaste, and fear of all things.

"Sora?" Roxas ventures. "You ok?"

Sora shakes his head and blinks several times. "Um—yeah. Of course. Yeah. Hey!" He stands up. Hands on hips he declares, "Great. Awesome for you two. But hey, we should be getting to the Usual Spot. I haven't seen the Twilight Town trio in too long."

Sora marches onward, and Kairi and Roxas have to take large steps to keep up with him.

Roxas shoots Kairi a confused look (one of unfortunately many he feels might come today after a reaction like this), but Kairi shrugs and appears as confused as he feels.

"Sora?" Kairi tries to get his attention. "Do you…Do you have any questions? Like when this happened?"

"I'm really excited to see Hayner, Pence, and Olette, aren't you? I've missed them."

"It happened on the trip, Sora," Kairi pushes, "and you were on a mission so we were both too busy to make it known."

"I really miss them."

"I'm not trying to hurt you, Sora."

Abruptly, Sora stops. He turns and looks at Kairi, his face very close to hers. The smile he has is almost creepy. "It's really good to see you, you know. I think it will be great once we are on the road, though. Lots to talk about."

Roxas moves an arm around Kairi. Sora's eyes gravitate to the contact. The smile fades into a neutral look. "Right. You're right. We should wait to have a full discussion until we have a longer amount of time to do so."

Kairi nods. "Of course, I'm sorry. I shouldn't push the issue."

"What issue? It's no issue. It's fine. Better than fine," Sora says. The creepy smile is back. He says it so earnestly, so firmly, that Kairi and Roxas believe him (for the most part).

Kairi gives him a smile in return. "Ok, Sora. Let's go see the others."

The rest of the short trek is made in silence. Voices return only when they reach the Usual Spot and the three Twilight Town natives find out another traveler stopped by. Sora seems to go back to normal, like the earlier news was never given, as Hayner, Pence, and Olette greet him with hugs and laughter. They tease him for being a "busy hero", and demand stories of where he has been. Unfortunately, Sora gives them the same story Kairi and Roxas received when they asked about his latest travels—can't say. Information with this one is dangerous, and they don't want to take a risk spreading unease. But he can say he's been basically everywhere he's already told them. It's a big mission. The three give their condolences when they see how exhausted even just saying this makes him. Sora thanks them and brushes off the slightly sadder atmosphere. He gets the Twilight Trio to discuss their future plans.

That is how the conversation goes until Hayner discreetly leans over to where Roxas is, sitting next to him, and snatches the packet of photos out of his friend's pocket.

"And what do we have here?" he says loudly, holding up the packet for all to see.

"Hey!" Roxas makes a half-hearted effort to get them back. Hayner easily avoids him.

"Trying to keep the scarecrow picture from us, I see." Hayner tsks. "Shame on you. We were promised photographic proof."

"Scarecrow! Scarecrow!" Pence chants.

Olette is already by Hayner's side. Hayner opens the packet. The others gather around him to get a good look.

The first few are pictures of Kairi and Roxas dancing at Radiant Garden with the townfolk. This is right before the camera is gifted to them.

The next few are of Roxas and Kairi taking revenge pictures of one another on their walk home from the town. The Great Maw along with the inky night creates a completely black background for the harsh flash illuminating the person in the picture. One unflattering one of Roxas and two equally unflattering ones of Kairi.

"We had a picture fight," Roxas explains. "I won."

"Only because I had mercy on you!"

Olette laughs. "You should frame those!"

Next is the group favorite—Roxas and the scarecrow together which all present agree will be treasured forever. Individual copies are requested. Then several after this with the Twilight Town Trio plus Roxas and Kairi on their day trip to the beach. They take a moment to divvy up these particular pictures so each have at least one to keep for memories of that day. There is one of Roxas and Kairi, side by side, arms locked around one another that Roxas tucks in his jacket pocket. Kairi takes the one of the five of them sitting around the bonfire.

The next picture is a surprise actually. Kairi and Roxas had asked the waiter to take their picture, but after they danced. So when they see the two of them, holding one another, foreheads pressed together, eyes closed, contentment on their faces, it's a surprise to them both.

"I didn't ask—did you?" Kairi stutters.

"No," Roxas says quickly. "I didn't. She must have."

Olette nudges Kairi. "So I take it the date went well."

Kairi giggles. "Yes, it went very well." She quickly flips to the next picture where it is the two of them in the side-by-side picture they thought was next. The final image in the pack.

"It better," Hayner says. "We put enough work into it. It better have been spectacular. Was it spectacular, Roxas? I will accept nothing less."

Roxas grins. "Yes, it was spectacular and it is all thanks to you three."

"Obviously!" Olette exclaims. She points to Kairi's new necklace. "When jewelry like that is given, how can the date be anything but?"

All eyes go to the ruby, a brighter red than the wearer's hair. Kairi beams.

"That is impressive," Pence says. "I was wondering how it would turn out."

"Roxas has great taste," Kairi says proudly. She smiles at him. He blushes from all the praise.

"I'm just glad you had a good time," Roxas says, but he can't help adding—"And that you finally admit that was our first date."

"You got me there," Kairi laughs. She leans up to kiss his cheek.

The moment of contentment is broken when Hayner looks to the quieter member of the group. "Sora? You doing ok? You look kinda pale."

Sora's eye twitches once before the forced-looking smile on his face grows even larger. "Yeah! Totally great! Don't know why you would think otherwise." He takes a couple steps towards the entrance. "We should be going though. We've got to get back to the castle in good time. The King wants us out in the field again soon."

Kairi and Roxas, knowing the source of their friend's distress, quickly agree.

"You're right. We've put that off too long," Roxas says.

Kairi looks to the Twilight Town natives. "I suppose this is goodbye for now."

Olette is quick to give hugs. The goodbyes are not drawn out, but they are sincere. Earnest words of "We will see you again soon" and "Promise to keep in touch!" are exchanged readily. Sora keeps his distance from this, however, and instead chooses to wave goodbye from the exit.

Soon he, Kairi, and Roxas are on their way to the woods where their gummi ships are parked. The couple walks ahead of the slow-walking Sora. From the moment they left the gang, his smile has been exchanged for one of concentration which is…not what either was expecting, but they will take that over the weirdness of before. It is a silent journey with Roxas and Kairi stealing glances behind them as Sora stares at the brick path.

After a while, Roxas gets a creeping feeling up his spine from Sora slinking behind them the whole way. It feels like being stalked by a predator. A very weird comparison, but Roxas can't find a better one.

"Sora?" Kairi ventures outside of the clock tower. "How are you doing?"

"Hm? Fine," Sora says, who seems surprised at being addressed. "Just thinking."

"Ok." Kairi squeezes Roxas's hand once to accompany the concern in her eyes. He mirrors her both in action and emotion.

They continue on and are only a few steps into the woods when Sora grabs Kairi's other hand, the one not taken by her boyfriend.

"Kairi, could I talk to you for a minute?"

"Huh? Right now?" For what seems like the millionth time that day, she glances towards Roxas only to have her hand tugged slightly by Sora. A small insistence.

"Yes, please. I really would like to talk to you. You asked if I had any questions. I have them now, and I'd like some answers before the long trip back."

"Um—I don't…" Kairi bites her lip.

At this, Sora looks at Roxas. "Please, Roxas. Just let me talk to her for a while. It won't take long. I just have questions. Like you said—questions."

Roxas doesn't like the slightly desperate look in Sora's eyes. He doesn't like the hint of sharpness to Sora's voice. He doesn't like the look of fear in Kairi's eyes. Roxas turns to Kairi and says, "Do you want to do this now?"

Kairi most certainly does not look like she wants to do this now. She does not look like she wants to do this at all, but she has to. She knows it. Might as well be now. "I mean, if you don't mind waiting a bit."

"Are you sure?" Roxas asks. He still doesn't like the look on her face. Or Sora's.

Kairi sighs. "Might as well."

Roxas doesn't like it, but he nods, respecting her choice. Still, he says, "I'll leave you two be, like in Wonderland."

(He hopes she catches his hint.)

Kairi nods. She leans forward, and Roxas has to meet her further than halfway because Sora's grip remains firm on her other hand. The second their lips connect is the same second they part because Sora is pulling her away.

"Awesome, thanks, be back in a minute, don't wait up," Sora says as he leads Kairi further into the woods.

"Sora, calm down. I'm coming," Kairi says. She tries tugging her hand free.

Sora keeps his hand tightly on hers until he feels they are far enough away from the only other pair of ears. The trees are now their audience. Then he legs go, turns, and immediately catches Kairi's gaze with his own.

"Kairi, I understand now. Everything's ok. Riku explained it to me." He looks happy now. At least happier than that fake happy from earlier.

Also, that is not a question.

"Riku explained what to you?" Kairi asks a question instead. She and Roxas weren't together then. What did he "explain"?

"He explained to me about you feeling left out. Not left out, but left behind. We aren't going to leave you behind in Radiant Garden! I'd never do that to you, Kairi. You wanted real promises with details which I didn't give. I'm sorry about that. I'm so sorry, Kairi."

Oh. That.

"You are?" Kairi knows this isn't the whole story, but she can't help but feel better at hearing Sora say this. All things aside, he is one of her best friends, her oldest friend. She wants to know he will be in her life.

"Yes! Riku told me what you said, and I couldn't agree more. We have been leaving you by yourself—without us. We talked and we both decided we are going to take you on all our missions no matter what the King says." Sora crosses his heart. "I promise."

Kairi's mouth turns down slightly. "You both decided. For me."

"Not like for you like you have no say, but for you as in for your happiness," Sora quickly insists. "We will all be together. For all of it."

Kairi smiles at Sora. She sees how much this means to him, how much he wants to show her he means his words. She puts her hand on his cheek.

"Thank you, Sora. That's exactly what I hear. All I ever wanted to know is that you and Riku planned on finding ways to be with me, to see me. In person. I wanted to be with you two."

Sora puts his hand over hers and presses his cheek into her palm. He closes his eyes. The contentment on his face is the most normal he has appeared since hearing the news. Kairi sees her friend now, her true friend who wants nothing but the best for her. Who wants to see her happy, and who makes her happy.

"I love you, Kairi," Sora whispers.

A shock of cold shoots through Kairi where the content warmth was only a split second ago. She swallows, knowing she has to tread carefully.

"I love you too, Sora," Kairi says. "You're one of my best friends. I care about you so much. I want us to be friends for the rest of our lives."

Sora's eyes open. He keeps her hand in his own, bringing it down to their sides. "We will, Kairi. But even better—we will be together."

"Sora—"

"Like we always wanted," Sora insists. "You and me. Everyone has seen it. We have always known it in our hearts, our connected hearts."

"Sora, please—"

Sora takes both her hands in his and brings them up. He steps closer. Kairi doesn't move away, feeling the full force of his insistence. Sora kisses the back of her hands, one kiss each. The imploringly eager look in his eyes is mesmerizing.

"Don't you see it, Kairi?" Sora says. "Riku, Naminé, you, and me—the four of us in Radiant Garden. We will be together there, and you and I will be together like we already wanted. I will help you with your royal work, and you can still come on missions with me. We can even make trips to Destiny Islands anytime we want!"

Kairi can't find it in herself to stop his lovely stream of words. They are all she wanted to hear from him for so long. The life she had wanted for so many years.

"I love you. I have always loved you," Sora continues. "I think you are the most beautiful person in all the worlds, and I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. I should have. We could have been enjoying our time together more if I had gotten the courage to tell you. But I am now. I love you, and I want to be with you."

Sora pulls her into a hug, and Kairi is overwhelmed by the memory of being in his arms. The comfort she felt and the love for him.

But Kairi gets no comfort in this hug because she recoils at his words. Instead of longing for Sora like her heart had done for years, like it seemed conditioned to do since he found her on that beach years ago, she wants to be separated from him. She wants to be in different arms. She wants a different voice to sooth her. From the one who has proven his love, proven his promises are not empty, proven he will not leave her. Not ever.

She wants to be with the one she truly loves. She wants to be with Roxas. She loves Roxas.

Not Sora.

Kairi's eyes sting, and she has to blink away tears because she knows the pain she has to create.

"No."

Sora just holds onto her tighter. "Kairi, you don't have to—"

"No, Sora. Let me go."

A heartbeat. Sora does let go, but it is a separation done with great reluctance. Sora looks cautious but not hurt.

Kairi takes a deep breath, preparing for the necessary punch to his heart. A pain she hates inflicting on her friend.

"I said no, Sora. I don't love you like that. I am with Roxas, and I am staying with Roxas."

Now Sora doesn't look too happy. "But…Kairi, don't you get it? I'm here! I love you! I'll be with you!"

"But I don't want to be with you like that, Sora. Not anymore."

"You don't really mean that." Sora closes his eyes. He seems to be convincing himself more than her. "You're only with Roxas because he was with you on this mission."

"What—"

Sora's determination persists. "He was convenient. Admit it. You've been missing me so much, and you lost hope. He was there to swoop in when I couldn't be there. How much do you know about him, anyway? Have you even really talked to him before this trip? I know you, Kairi. I am your best friend. You don't have to be stuck in this anymore. You don't have to settle."

"Settle!" Kairi had done an admirable job of keeping her emotions in check, but now? Now he has crossed a line, and she feels her blood burning beneath her skin. Yet she tries holding in the rage churning inside. "I am not settling for Roxas. He is the one I want. He is not some cheap knockoff. After what I have experienced with Roxas, I know the love I have for you was never close to the kind I feel with him. He is the one I want by my side forever."

Sora's expression is dark. Rarely has Kairi seen such a look cross his face. Usually the glare came out when certain Xehanorts or Organization members were close by. But not now, not aimed at her.

"Don't say that, Kairi."

"Listen closely, Sora," Kairi insists, unafraid of his anger, instead allowing more of her own to show. "I may have wanted to try a relationship with you before but not anymore. Roxas is the one for me, and you need to accept that. We are staying together for a very long time."

"Kairi, you don't mean that!"

"Oh she means it!"

Roxas has had enough of listening as the best relationship of his life is attacked. He emerges from the trees with the same anger in his eyes the other two are suffering from and comes to stand beside Kairi.

Sora doesn't even seem surprised at his entrance. He skips addressing it completely when he says, "No, you don't know what she means. I've known her a lot longer than you. I know her heart."

"You don't even know her now!" Roxas counters. "You don't know what she wants or who she is. She has grown up from your childhood friend, something you and Riku need to get through your thick skulls."

"Don't talk to me about friendship when I've been betrayed by one of my own! How could you do this to me behind my back? You knew how I felt about her," Sora snaps.

"Sora, Roxas, please!" Kairi says. She feels herself on the verge of tears as the two shout. Her own heart is breaking as she watches the two people she is closest to scream at one another. They are completely deaf to her attempts at separating them. She has been trying since Roxas emerged but neither notices her anymore.

All three are too caught up in the whirlwind of emotions to notice the subtle change in eye color each now suffers from.

"If you really felt that way about her, you wouldn't have left her. You wouldn't have been so cruel to how she felt!"

"Riku and I are who she needs, not you! You're just the backup. She knows in her heart who she is really destined to be with."

"Shows how much you know! Kairi and I are meant to be, and you're the only one blind enough not to see it."

"Kairi belongs with me!"

"She is with me, not you!"

"Please!"

At Kairi's last futile attempt at peace, as tears stream down her face, as Sora and Roxas shoot hate-fueled words, the ground beneath them turns completely black. The darkness envelopes them in the blink of an eye. It rises upwards and throws all three high in the air. They fall hard to the ground a fair distance from one another.

Three things happen in this moment.

One is Kairi looking at Roxas and crying, "Roxas!"

The second is Roxas looking at Kairi and shouting, "Kairi!"

The third is Sora's frantic yellow eyes staring at the black cloud with a pair of equally yellow eyes creeping up behind Kairi, and he chokes out, "The heartless!"

All four beings move at once.

Sora takes out his keyblade and shoots a fireball. Roxas doesn't bother with his keyblade. He sprints towards Kairi. Kairi, only half aware of the darkness behind her, launches herself from the ground in a futile attempt at reaching Roxas.

And the heartless envelopes Kairi before either young man has any chance of doing the princess any good.

She and the heartless disappear into the ground just before the fireball can reach its target. And there is no further sign of either the princess or the heartless.

Roxas falls onto his hands and knees at the place he saw her disappear.

Sora runs up to him. He is completely out of breath. "The—The heartless…it—that's what…" He grips his hair, pinching his eyes closed. He still feels…why does he still…?

"Look what you've done." The words are spoken far too quietly. Roxas's fists tighten around the blades of grass.

"What I've done?!" Sora can't help biting back. (Seriously, he can't seem to help it.) "You're the one who interrupted us!"

"I could have saved her!" Roxas is on his feet and in Sora's face. (Maybe a small piece of Sora's mind notes the yellow eyes that have replaced the cool blue of before, but it is not important to him now.) "She was safe with me!"

"She's safe with me!" Sora says. "You're just backup!"

"You've ruined everything."

"You ruined everything first."

"You said you were my brother!"

"I don't have a brother!"

"I hate you!"

"I hate you more!"

With those words exchanged, keyblades are drawn.


Naminé waits in front of the screen. Although she left two messages already, she waits patiently because the moment she steps away could be the moment she receives the call. She requested Kairi call her as soon as possible.

Sora is in Twilight Town. Naminé knows he will find out about Roxas and Kairi. What she doesn't know is how he will react. She trusts Sora, but she has had a bad feeling ever since he left, and she doesn't know why.

Maybe she shouldn't have told Riku about their excursion. Maybe she should have told the King and asked if she could retrieve them herself. Perhaps she would take Riku, break the news to him first before they all could strategize about how to tell Sora. But it's too late now. And besides, Kairi specifically asked that she tell her best friends herself.

"They will call, dear," Queen Minnie says gently. "Or better yet, all three will be back. You'll see your friends soon.

Naminé turns, surprised. She hadn't heard the Queen come in.

"I know," she says. "I'm just…wishing I was there too."

Queen Minnie nods. "I understand. But this is one we simply must step aside and allow them to figure out."

Naminé turns away from the screen and begins walking with the Queen. The Queen gives her an empathetic look.

"It is never easy, is it? Being away from loved ones."

Naminé shakes her head. Unable to find the words to agree with such an understatement. She hopes she is worrying for nothing. It probably is nothing, yet she can't seem to shake this feeling. Like there is something lurking about, something waiting to erupt.

She wishes Riku were here. She wishes he didn't have to go on this mission.

She misses him. She feels alone when he is away. (Perhaps this is how Kairi always felt when her friends left her behind. No wonder she was hurt.)

Naminé believes she knows now some of the pain Kairi was feeling. This is the first time Riku has been gone so long. And for a moment, Naminé ponders on the feeling.

A moment she regrets. Almost immediately after the thought crosses her mind, she is completely enveloped by it. It chokes her throat and strikes her heart. It's a hit so hard it's as if her vision itself loses color and she can't breathe.

Naminé falls to her knees, clutching her chest—her heart. What air her lungs can consume comes out in a scream.

Queen Minnie has never seen such pain.


The infant's eyes blinking wonderingly at him from his arms confirms King Mickey's suspicion that this was the best idea. Holding such a new light gives him hope and renews his sense of purpose. It is these lights he is fighting for. They will find the heartless trying to steal those lights, and they will win.

"She's perfect," the King says.

Cinderella smiles. She sits across from him in the rocking chair placed in the corner of the baby's nursery. It has only been a week since the child's birth, but she is not surprised to see King Mickey here so soon after. She is honored to have him as her guest.

"She is worth all the waiting," Cinderella says fondly. "Would you mind doing me a favor once your visit is complete?"

"What can I do for you, princess?"

"Would you mind passing along my invitation to Kairi and Roxas? They were here recently, and they were such wonderful company. I would love for them to meet the newest addition to the kingdom."

The King nods. "It might be a little while before they return because of a mission I have for them, but afterwards, I'll make sure they find their way here again."

Cinderella nods. "Thank you. I appreciate your visit as well. It has been a while."

"It has. I apologize. Life has been busy. I promise to try—Cinderella?"

Cinderella is suddenly hunched over in her seat. She clutches her chest tightly as she gasps for air. Tears appear in her eyes.

"Cinderella!" The King exclaims, unsure what to do or what's even wrong.

"Kairi!" Cinderella manages to gasp.

And that's when he sees it. The black veins spreading from her heart.

Oh. Oh no. No no no no no. No please. Not—

Cinderella waves the hand not clutching her chest towards the door. "Get her—Get her—out!"

King Mickey works automatically. He rushes out of the room with the baby in his arms. He quickly passes the child onto the midwife still caring for mother and child. The King finds Prince Christopher and relays the basics of the situation—Cinderella is in danger and the King must leave immediately in order to fix her. No, he can't fix her here. He knows the problem and the problem is off world. Take care of your child and trust that the King will have things taken care of soon. Trust him.

As King Mickey leaves, he really does hope he can follow through with the hope he gave Christopher because he certainly does not feel like he can.


I'll just leave this chapter here for your reading pleasure. There so much I wanted from this chapter and I'm still not sure. I'll leave it up to you, my favorite audience, to conclude its worth.

Happy final day of Roxiri Week 2021! Enjoy the angsty cliffhanger!