Disclaimer: I don't own ANYTHING.
Chapter 20: Love?
Kairi giggled as she held onto Sora's arm. It was just like old times, and any thought of Sora leaving anytime soon was far from her mind. All she could think of was to be next to him forever.
They had reached her home, after a seemingly short walk. Sora walked her up to the door, and she smiled sadly. "I don't want this night to end... but you probably want to get back to your mom, don't you?" Although Sora had gone off to Julliard, his mother had stayed behind for unknown reasons to Kairi. Sometimes, when she saw her, she'd give a little wave, knowing that there was someone else who's heart was also breaking for the same person.
"It'll be okay. I've spent all day with her already." Sora smiled.
With that smile, she took his hand back in hers, and they walked down the lawn in front of her home. She tripped over the steep hill of grass and her long concert dress, but Sora caught her directly in his arms.
She looked into his eyes and giggled. They shone even in the pitch black darkness of the night. He set her back into a standing position, but with her leaning on him. "Sorry," she giggled. Her face turned serious again as she looked at her mailbox. "My acceptance or rejection letter was supposed to come today..."
"C'mon, let's see." Sora went over to their mailbox, and pulled out one letter. Apparently Kairi and her mother usually didn't get much mail. The envelope was addressed to Kairi from NYU.
Kairi was visibly shaking as Sora put the letter in her hand. "Let's sit down... I don't want to see you fall again."
She cracked a slight smile as Sora wrapped his arm around her waist, half pulling her down onto the grass. "I really don't want to open this..." she groaned, starting a staring contest with the envelope.
"It's okay... I'll be here for you no matter what." Sora tried to smile, but it was hard when Kairi was so upset.
She fumbled with the letter, but couldn't seem to be able to peel open the envelope due to her body shaking so violently. Sora, getting impatient, took her hands in his and held her shaking hands still. Once he felt her relax, he gently moved her fingers so it was able to open the envelope.
"See, that wasn't so hard."
"I'm still scared, though... Sora, you take it out and read it first!"
Sora, who was frowning, decided to obey her command. He slipped out the letter, then unfolded it, and started to mutter the words to himself.
Kairi watched the expression on Sora's face change as he read it. He started out with a sort of worried look, but then his mouth creeped its way into a big grin. "Wow, Kairi, they're offering you a full scholarship. What have you been doing all these years I've been gone?"
"Well, I didn't think that I did that great on Regents...(1)"
"Oh, stop being modest, Kairi. You know that you did wonderful." He took her hands in his and pulled her up off the grass. He then twirled her around in happiness.
Kairi's smile was now just as wide as Sora's, if not wider. They both colapsed on her lawn in dizzyness from the twirling, but were both as content as could be. Kairi pulled Sora into a tight hug. "I'm so happy."
Sora stroked her hair. "Me too, Kairi... me too... now think about how much we can see each other!"
Kairi felt her heart break as she heard his words. After Sora went back to Julliard, they'd still be separated for another semester, and Kairi didn't want to be away from him again. "Sora..." she moaned, and looked down in disappointment.
Sora put his hand to her lips. "Shh... it's okay, Kairi... don't think about that. Just take in all of the happiness now."
Kairi smiled. He was right, and she was going to do exactly what he was saying. Because now, as long as she was right next to him, she knew that nothing could go wrong, even if the world ended.
Was this was she had been waiting for all along? All of those years of misery... were they finally paying off, for being next to him for an hour? She let out a short sigh, and sat up, wondering if all of her pain was worth it.
Sora sat up also. "What's wrong, Kairi?"
"It's just that..." she paused and looked at her dress. "My concert clothes are getting dirty."
"No, I know that it's not that, Kairi. You weren't ever one to worry about things like that anyway."
Kairi looked down. Sora sighed and scooted a little bit closer to her to set an arm around her. "It's about me leaving again, isn't it?"
How could he always read her mind like that? "Yeah..." she frowned deeply.
"Look, Kairi, you just need to hold out for another semester... it won't be as long as it seems. I promise."
"But-"
"And even when we're apart... Kairi, you know that I'm always with you, even if you aren't with your cello. Just know..." He squeezed her hand. "...that and sound with beauty is from me to you. Because there's nothing more that I want than to be with you, too..."
She felt a tear roll down her cheek. Why did he have to do so much for her? She felt like she could do nothing for him... or at least not as much as he ever did for her.
"Kairi, don't look at me that way... because as long as I know that you're with me, there can't be anything more that I'd want... because I love you."
She froze at those three words. Sure, she felt... something for him, but how could he be so sure that it was love when she wasn't? And how was it that he could read her mind so clearly?
"Kairi, if you're wondering..." he squeezed her hand. "I could hear it all through your music. I could feel how miserable I have made you in these past three years... and I can't be more sorry for that..."
Kairi put on a little smile, and hugged Sora. "It's okay, Sora... as long as you're here now." For some reason, those words just made her sadness melt away.
-
The next day, Sora went back to where he came from- Julliard. He recieved a small goodbye from Kairi and his mother, but no one else.
It was hard for her to say goodbye to him, but she was sure that it was harder for his mother- having him to leave before most kids left their parents, although she could see and sense the pride that his mother was feeling.
After he had left the night before, she had pondered on how she was going to say that she loved him. She didn't just want to go up to him and say it, it would be too awkward. She also didn't want to wait for the right time, it would take far too long. And he was going to be leaving soon.
So, she rehearsed it in front of her mirror in the morning starting from six, and up until seven, when she walked over to his house to see him leave.
She saw him and his mother come out of his door, and watched him get into his car. He gave his tearful mother a loose hug, and as he opened the car door, he saw her run up to him and squeeze him in a tight embrace.
No words were spoken for a while, they just stared at each other the way that they used to, until Kairi spoke. "I love you, Sora."
It came out perfectly; better than anytime at home in front of her mirror, and she was satisfied. She watched him get into his car as the two of them waved tearfully.
And with that, he was gone. But now, she wouldn't be alone or miserable.
-
His words had stayed with Kairi for the rest of the school year.
And, now, on her graduating day, as she heard the birds chirp in the courtyard, she smiled.
The music of the birds...
The loud music of the speakers...
The rustles of feet from the people rushing to see all of their friends in the small timeframe...
The cries of joy, and the cries of sadness...
It was all for her. He was there with her, in the music in her heart- along with his.
There was nothing more she could have ever wanted.
-
(1) Regents are the state exams of New York... I don't know much about them since I don't live there, but I know that whether you get to a good college or not depends on your Regents scores. That's all I know about them, really. & I placed the Islands in near Long Island in New York because it seemed to be the most adequate place to put them.
Sorry about the short-ness... heh...
& was the ending a bit weird? I hope it wasn't, cuz I liked it very much.
As of right now, I'm debating between a sequel or a prequel, or maybe even both. But we'll have to see. It's not going to come until I reach at LEAST the middle of Welcomed Illusions- that's my next big project, after House of Melodies is finished. Several plotbunnies for the prequel hit me last night, although it's kind of going to lack SoKai & be more Sora-centric. There might be a FEW little moments, but in general, I'm aiming more of the drama genre for the prequel. It'll most likely be titled, "My Imperfect Harmony," or something to that effect. & the sequel... I guess we'll have to see about that, because right now, the plot is SO predictable that it's not even funny. But yeah, the title will most likely stay as "Face the Music."
Okay, I'm done with my talking. Thank you guys SO much for all of the reviews, I appreciate every single one of them! So please review this last chapter:D
